Cup holder

Abstract

A cup holder unit includes an outer case, an inner case slidable between a pulled-out position and a stored position, a main holder member slidable between a usable position and a non-usable position, and a connecting member pivotally supported on the inner case. The connecting member has an abutment section to abut against a corresponding section of the main holder member halfway through pulling of the main holder member from the non-usable position so that the main holder member can be pulled out together with the inner case, and a tab to engage a notched section when the inner case is substantially fully pulled out to the pulled-out position. A disengaging abutment section is formed at the connecting member to disengage the tab from the notched section by abutting against the corresponding section halfway through pushing the main holder member from the usable position to the non-usable position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

The present invention relates to a cup holder for holding a container of various types, and particularly to a drawer-type cup holder installed in an encased condition in an instrument panel or a console of various types in an automobile that is pulled out for use as needed.

There is a so-called two-stage, drawer-type cup holder, as exemplarily shown in patent references 1 and 2, wherein an inner case is arranged in an outer case so that the position of the inner case is slidably switched relative to the outer case, and a main holder member arranged in the inner case so that the position of the main holder member is slidably switched relative to the inner case. A cup holder of this type makes it possible, for example, to reduce the front-to-back dimension of the unit as a whole, or set the pulled-out position of the main holder member more forward in accordance with the length of the inner case while controlling the unit's front-to-back dimension.

The unit comprises an outer case that is fixed, an inner case disposed in the outer case to be slidably switched between a pulled-out position where the inner case is projected from the outer case and a stored position where the inner case is stored in the outer case, and a main holder member disposed in the inner case to be slidably switched between a usable position where the main holder member is pulled out from the inner case and a non-usable position where the main holder member is stored in the inner case. The switching operations to the respective positions are carried out by pulling or pushing the front surface of the main holder member.

The main holder member, moreover, usually has a holder hole to restrict the periphery of a container and a platform to receive the bottom of the container. The holder hole is formed in correspondence with the diameter of the largest container anticipated, and formed so as to be also applicable to containers of various types. For this reason, in use, the smaller the diameter of the container, the easier it becomes for the container to rattle in the holder hole. As a conventional solution for this problem, an upwardly biased sub-holder is disposed substantially horizontally within the holder hole, as disclosed in patent reference 1, so that a container is inserted into the holder hole while resiliently displacing the sub-holder downward to thereby absorb the play in the holder hole.

Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003-325255

Patent Reference 2: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2004-175168

In such a two-stage, drawer-type cup holder described above, as mentioned in patent reference 2, unless there is means to control the order in which the inner case and the main holder member are slid to their respective positions, the main holder member may be switched all by itself to the usable position before the inner case reaches the pulled-out position. For example, this creates an illusion that the cup holder unit has been switched to the usable mode, and results in stopping the pulling force applied to the main holder member despite the fact that the inner case has not reached the pulled-out position. As a solution for this problem, the cup holders disclosed in patent references 1 and 2 are adapted to control the order in which the inner case and the main holder member are slid to their respective positions by providing two locking mechanisms, i.e. a first engaging part to engage with and disengage from the outer case and a second engaging part to engage with and disengage from the inner case in the case of patent reference 1, and a first locking member to engage with and disengage from the main holder member and a second locking means to engage with and disengage from the outer case in the case of patent reference 2. In the conventional configurations described above, however, two locking mechanisms are required. This makes the construction complex and cost reduction difficult, as it increases not only the number of parts, but also the steps required for assembly.

Moreover, the aforementioned sub-holder is disposed so as to extend substantially horizontally or tilted slightly downward above the platform in the holder hole. The sub-holder is further displaced downward when it abuts against the bottom of a container inserted into the holder hole. Even if the sub-holder is displaced downward to the maximum extent, it only approaches the inner wall surface of the holder hole. Thus, the conventional construction only permits the insertion of containers having a smaller diameter than the actual diameter of the holder hole. In other words, the conventional sub-holder constitutes a restricting factor for containers that can be inserted. In addition, some containers have rims around the bottom periphery, while others have a section with a narrower diameter. When such a container is pulled out from the holder hole, the rim or the narrower diameter section tends to be caught by the lower edge of the sub-holder.

The present invention eliminates the shortcomings described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a cup holder which can control the order such that the inner case and the main holder member are pulled out or pushed in with a simplified construction, thereby preserving the advantages of the two-stage drawer structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide cup holder as stated above, which has a sub-holder so as to increase the range of container diameter that can be held or make the pull-out operation of a container from the holder hole smooth, thereby making the cup holder unit more user friendly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention disclosed in a first aspect achieves the aforementioned first objective is a cup holder unit comprising an outer case, an inner case slidably switchable between a pulled-out position where the inner case is projected forward from the front opening of said outer case and a stored position where the inner case is stored in said outer case, and a main holder member slidably switchable between a usable position where the main holder member is pulled out forward from the front opening of said inner case and a non-usable position where the main holder member is stored in said inner case. The switching operations to the respective positions are performed by pulling or pushing the front surface of the main holder member.

The cup holder unit further comprises a notched section disposed in the front of said outer case, and a connecting member pivotally supported on said inner case. The connecting section has a synchronizing abutment section to abut against the corresponding section of said main holder member halfway through pulling out said main holder member from the non-usable position while said inner case is in the stored position so that said main holder member can be pulled out together with the inner case, and a tab to engage with said notched section when said inner case is almost fully pulled out to the pulled-out position. The abutment section and tab are disposed in the front section thereof. The connecting member also has a disengaging abutment section to disengage said tab from said notched section by abutting against the corresponding section of the main holder member halfway through pushing said main holder member from the usable position to the non-usable position. The connecting member is disposed in the rear section thereof. A spring member is formed to bias the connecting member in the direction of engaging said tab with said notched section.

In the above cup holder unit of the invention, when the main holder member is pulled out from the non-usable position while the inner case is in the stored position, the synchronizing abutment section of the connecting member abuts against the corresponding section of the inner case halfway through the pull-out operation to allow the main holder member to be pulled out together with the inner case. When the inner case almost reaches the pulled-out position, the tab of the connecting member engages the notched section of the outer case, and the main holder member is subsequently pulled out independently to be switched to the usable position.

When the main holder member is pushed from the usable position while the inner case is in the pulled-out position, the corresponding section of the main holder member abuts against the disengaging abutment section and turns the engaging member to thereby release the aforementioned engagement. The inner case subsequently slides together with the main holder member to the stored position, and the main holder member also slides to the non-usable position.

In the above construction, in a second aspect, the inner case is preferably restricted from sliding from the pulled-out position to the stored position while the tab is engaged with the notched section. The inner case has a projection that is fitted with the guide slot of said outer case, and is restricted from sliding further forward from the pulled-out position while said projection is abutted against the front end of said guide slot.

A third aspect of the invention achieves the above second objective, and is directed to a cup holder unit comprising an outer case, an inner case slidably switchable between a pulled-out position where the inner case is projected forward from the front opening of said outer case and a stored position where the inner case is stored in said outer case, and a main holder member slidably switchable between a usable position where the main holder member is pulled out forward from the front opening of said inner case and a non-usable position where the main holder member is stored in said inner case. The switching operations to the respective positions are performed by pulling or pushing the front surface of said main holder member.

The main holder member has a platform to receive the bottom of a container and a holder hole to support the periphery of the container, a recess disposed in the inner wall that defines said holder hole, and a sub-holder pivotally supported in said recess to practically change the diameter of said holder hole by turning downward against the bias force of a spring member when subjected to a downward load from above. The sub-holder becomes flush with the surface of said inner wall when maximally turned downward to be housed in said recess.

In the above cup holder unit of the present invention, since the sub-holder is housed in the recess, the cup holder unit can hold, at maximum, the container having an outer diameter that is approximately the same as the holder hole. In the above construction, the sub-holder is preferably positioned within the holder hole and tilted slightly upward above the horizontal position when not subjected to a downward load, and has a guide rib projecting in the surface near the tip end thereof to prevent the container from getting caught (fourth aspect). The main holder member preferably has an open-sided vertical hole disposed above the platform to support a portion of a container periphery and a pivotally supported side supporter biased in the direction of sidewise deployment to form said holder hole in conjunction with the vertical hole, and the sub-holder is installed to said side supporter (firth aspect).

The present invention described above has the following effects.

The invention of the first aspect ensures that the main holder member is always used in the normal projected condition with reduced numbers of components, as compared to those disclosed in patent reference 1 and 2, to thereby enable the unit to always hold containers stably, and improves the user friendliness and the reliability of the unit.

The invention of the second aspect allows the front edge section of the outer case to form the notched section, as in the case of the example of the invention, to thereby increase the design flexibility or reduce the required machining precision.

The invention of the third aspect can increase the tolerable range of container diameters, as compared to the conventional sub-holders, for the same holder diameter. This enables unit size reduction by reducing the size of the holder hole, which is worthwhile even by a small degree.

The invention of the fourth aspect can eliminate the possibility of catching the rim at the bottom periphery or narrower section of a container when pulling it out of the holder hole, since the sub-holder is tilted upward. In the present invention, moreover, even when a container that is extremely narrow tilts towards the sub-holder in the holder hole, the sub-holder tilted upward eliminates the possibility of inadvertent falling of the container, unlike the conventional sub-holders that are arranged horizontally or tilted slightly downward.

The invention of the fifth aspect is significant in affirmatively specifying that the invention of the third and fourth aspects is applicable to either the construction wherein side supporters are provided, as in the case of the embodiment, or the construction disclosed in patent reference 1 wherein side supporters are not included.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a cup holder unit according to the present invention when a main holder member is in a non-usable position.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the unit shown in FIG. 1 when an inner case is in a pulled-out position.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the unit shown in FIG. 1 when the main holder member is in a usable position.

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of an outer case of the unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded view of the inner case of the unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view of the main holder member of the unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded view of a side supporter and sub-holder of the unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c) are schematic views of the sub-holder installed to the side supporter shown in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are schematic views showing the operation of the sub-holder shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the unit in the state shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of the unit in the initial stage of pulling operation from the state shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the unit in the state shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the unit in the state shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 14 is a schematic sectional view showing the process of pushing the main holder member to a non-usable position from the state shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view showing the disengagement of the inner case from the outer case from the state shown in FIG. 14.

FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) are schematic views showing the advantages of the sub-holder of the present invention in comparison to a conventional example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. FIGS. 1-3 are schematic views of a cup holder unit in various states. FIGS. 4-6 and 8(a)-8(c) show the components of the unit. FIGS. 7, 9(a) and 9(b) show the relationship between the side supporter and the sub-holder. FIGS. 10-15 show the switching operation of the unit, and FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) schematically compare the sub-holder of the present invention with that of a conventional unit. In the following explanation, the unit's structure will be discussed in detail, and then how to use the unit, or the operation, will be mentioned.

Unit's Structure

A cup holder unit in this embodiment is installed in an instrument panel or a console of various types in an automobile, for example, and the main components include a fixed outer case 1, a movable inner case 2, a main holder member 3 for holding a container, a connecting member 4 pivotally supported in the inner case 2, side supporters 5 pivotally supported by the main holder member 3, and sub-holders 6 pivotally supported in the inner side walls of the side supporters 5. The main components or the relationships between the components are as follows. The outer case 1 is encased in a recess of the installation location so that the front opening is exposed. The inner case 2 is slidably switched between a stored position where it is pushed in through the front opening of the outer case 1 and a usable position where it is pulled out.

The main holder member 3 has platforms 34 to receive the bottom of a container and holder holes (33, 50) to support the periphery of the container, and is slidably switched between a non-usable position where it is pushed in through the front opening of the inner case 2 and a usable position where it is pulled out. The connecting member 4 operatively connects the inner case 2 and the main holder member 3 as needed. The side supporters 5 are turned inward against a bias force when the main holder member 3 is switched from the usable position to the non-usable position, and outward (deployed sideways) by the bias force when the main holder member 3 is switched from the non-usable position to the usable position. The sub-holders 6 turn downward against a bias force when it is subjected to a downward load to thereby practically vary the diameter of the holder holes (33, 50). The details will follow.

As shown in FIG. 4, the aforementioned outer case 1 is a frame made of resin, and the inside thereof is defined by an upper surface 12, a lower surface 13, and side surfaces 14. It also has a metal protector 10 attached to the top. Guide slots 12a are disposed on the upper surface 12 to extend from the front to the back. A notched section 13a is provided by removing one portion of the front edge of the lower surface 13. The later described tab 44 of the connecting member 4 (FIG. 13) engages with and disengages from the notched section 13a that is formed at the front edge of the lower surface. In the state where the tab 44 is engaged, the inner case 2 can be pulled out further, but the sliding of the inner case 2 from the pulled-out position to the stored position is blocked.

In each side surface 14, there are provided a lower guide slot 14a opened at the bottom and extending from front to back, a guide slot 15 disposed on the inner side extending from front to back substantially in the center of the height, and an upper slot 16 extending from front to back above the guide slot 15 to place a guide member 11 therein. At the front end of the lower guide slot 14a, a flexible projection 14b is provided to prevent the later described stopper 23a from slipping off.

Reference numeral 17 denotes multiple mounting holes disposed in the side surfaces 14. The protector 10 is screwed to the upper surface 12 with screws S1 through the mounting holes 17 and the holes 10a disposed on the protector 10 so as to cover the upper surface. Reference numerals 18a and 18b denote securing holes that run through the upper section of the side surfaces 14 into the upper slots 16. The guide members 11 are installed within the upper slots 16 when inserted into the upper slots 16 with the tabs 11a and 11b on the back snapped into the corresponding securing holes 18a and 18b.

The aforementioned inner case 2 is of a metal press molding having a U-shaped cross section, and the upper opening is closed with a resin cover 20. A play window 22a opened in the widthwise direction near the front and an installation window 22b opened in the back are provided in the lower surface 22. In each side surface 23, there are provided a stopper 23a positioned in the back and folded outward substantially at a right angle to fit into the aforementioned guide slot 14a, an upper slot 24 having a U-shaped cross section and positioned at the top and extending from front to back to place a guide member 21 therein, and mounting holes 24a and securing holes 24b respectively disposed in the middle and the corners of the outer surface of the upper slot 24. The guide member 21 is inserted into the upper slot 24, and installed therein by snapping tabs 21a and 21b disposed on the back into the corresponding securing holes 24b.

The cover 20 comprises a plate 25 to be placed on the sections forming the upper slots 24 in the two sides, projections 26a projecting at two sides of the plate 25 so as to slidably fit into the guide members 11, and mounting sections 26b disposed downward from both sides of the plate 25. The cover is screwed to the inner case with screws S2 through holes 26c disposed on the mounting sections 26b and the mounting holes 24a so as to cover the space between the side surfaces 23.

Reference numerals 25a and 25b denote ribs disposed between the plate and the upper surface 12 of the outer case 1 to absorb rattling. On the inner surface of the plate 25, there are provided cam grooves 27a to guide the movement of the later described side supporters 5 (the shafts 56 thereof), and guide slots 27b (see FIG. 13) extending from front to back on both sides. A stopper 27c is disposed in the front of each guide slot 27b. The stopper 27c abuts against the later described projection 39 when the holder main body 3 slides the projection 38 forward along the guide slot 27b to thereby restrict the forward most position, i.e., the usable position, of the main holder member 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, the installation window 22b is provided with two opposing support pieces 28a for pivotally supporting the connecting member 4, and an upright wall 29 at the rear edge. Shaft holes are provided in the support pieces 28a along the same axial line. An anchor 29a is disposed to project in the widthwise direction in the upper section of the upright wall 29. The connecting member 4 comprises a substantially rectangular plate member 40 which integrally forms: a disengaging abutment section 41 that stands high in the upper surface in the rear; a shaft 42 that projects from both sides and fits into the shaft holes of the support pieces 28a; a tab 44 projecting in the lower surface in the front; a synchronizing abutment section 45 projecting in the upper surface in the front, opposite of the tab 44; a projection 43 projecting in the rear side of the plate member on one side to be arranged between the lower surface 22 and the anchor 29a when the plate member 40 is pivotally supported by the support pieces 28a to restrict the range of rotation; and a recess (not shown) to place a coil spring 46 and a shaft (not shown) to support the coil spring 46 arranged in the recess that are both disposed in the upper surface of the plate member 40.

The connecting member 4 is pivotally supported by fitting the shaft 42 into the shaft holes upon incorporating the spring member 46 into the plate member 40. In this case, the projection 43 is disposed between the lower surface 22 and the anchor 29a. Subsequently, the spring member 36 is anchored on the upright wall 29 at one end and the front of the plate member 40 at the other end, while generating bias force. This turnably biases the connecting member 4 about the shaft 42 so as to push the tab 44 in a downward direction.

The inner case 2 described above is pushed into the outer case 1 so that the stoppers 23a located on both sides go over the flexible projections 14b to fit into the lower guide slots 14a, and the connecting member 4 is turned against the bias force of the spring member 46 to allow the tab 44 to go over the notched section 13a. The inner case 2, as a consequence, is assembled to the outer case 1 by fitting the projections 26a into the guide members 11 so as to slide back and forth. The stoppers 23a abut against the front ends of the lower guide slots 14a to thereby establish the pulled-out position when the inner case 2 is pulled out maximally, and abut against the rear ends of the lower guide slots 14a to thereby establish the stored position when the inner case 2 is pushed in maximally.

The aforementioned main holder member 3 includes a section 30 to be inserted into the inner case 2, an operable section 31 that is an ornamental plate disposed at the front of the section 30, vertical holes 33 disposed in both sides in the front of the section 30, a base end section 32 disposed in the rear of the section 30, and side supporters 5 rotatably supported by the base end section 32 to restrict, in conjunction with the vertical holes 33, the peripheral surfaces of the containers that will be inserted into the vertical holes 33. The operable section 31 is substantially rectangular in shape with an elongated recess 31a disposed in the center of the front surface, that is designed so as to allow a finger inserted into the recessed section 31a to catch the inner upper area (see FIG. 10). The open-sided vertical holes 33 disposed between the operable section 31a and the base end section 32 are positioned above the platform 34. They form the holder holes in conjunction with the front curved sections 50 of the side supporters 5. The base end section 32 is divided into upper and lower sections, and has projections 32a disposed on the side surfaces to mate with the guide members 21 of the inner case 2.

As shown in FIG. 13, on the lower side of the base section 32, there are provided a first wall 39a disposed downward in the longitudinal center and a second wall 39b positioned in the rear surface of said first wall 39a and tilted upward from the lower end of the first wall. The second wall 39b and the first wall 39a respectively work relative to the disengaging abutment section 41 and the synchronizing abutment section 45 of the later described connecting member 4.

The upper section of the base end section 32 is bordered with two side walls and a rear wall, and divided by an intermediary wall to form left and right arrangement spaces. The arrangement spaces are closed by a lid 37 installed above it. Each arrangement space has a shaft 36 that turnably supports the base end section 51 of the corresponding side supporter 5. The lid 37 has mounting holes 37a disposed on both sides and the mid front section, guide slots 37b disposed adjacent to the mounting holes 37a on the sides, ribs 38a, 38b disposed on both sides of the upper surface to slidably come in contact with the upper surface of the inner case 2, and flexible ribs 39 (see FIG. 13) disposed on both sides to fit into the guide slots 27b of the inner case 2. The lid 37 is screwed to the base end section 32 with screws S3 through the holes 37a and the mounting holes 35a disposed in the upper section of the base end section 32 so as to cover the upper arrangement sections. The lid installation is performed after assembling the base end sections 51 of the side supporters 5 to the aforementioned arrangement spaces.

Each side supporter 5 comprises a front curved section 50 and a base end section 51. The base end section 51 has a vertical shaft hole 55 disposed in the rear, a shaft 56 projecting on the upper surface, and a spring member 57 that held by the section of the shaft 56 that projects above the shaft hole 55 so as to bias the side supporter 5 in the direction to deploy sideways. The base end section 51 is pivotally supported by fitting the shaft 36 into the shaft hole 55 so as to turn to a predetermined angle relative to the aforementioned arrangement space. The spring member 57, while being held around the shaft 56, is anchored to the corresponding upper section of the base end section 32 on one end and the corresponding section of the base end section 51 on the other end, while generating spring pressure, thereby turnably biasing the side supporter 5 in the direction to deploy sideways.

The shaft 56 goes through the corresponding guide slot 37b of the lid 37 and fits into the cam groove 27 disposed on the inner surface of the plate 25 that constitutes the inner case. The side supporter 5 described above is turned inward (contracted) against the bias force of the spring member 57 when the shaft 56 is slid along the track of the aforementioned cam groove 27 during the process of pushing the main holder member 3 into the inner case 2 from the state where it is pulled out of the inner case 2 or in the usable position. The main holder member 3 having the side supporters 5 deployed sideways in the usable position, therefore, is switched to the non-usable position by automatically rotating the side supporters 5 inward during the process of being stored in the inner case 2.

Each curved section 50 defines and forms a holder hole in conjunction with the vertical hole 33 described earlier. On the inner side thereof there is provided a substantially rectangular recess 52, which corresponds to a sub-holder 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the recess 52 has the depth and the inner shape to house the sub-holder 6 so as to be flush with the inner surface of the curved section. The recess includes shaft holes 52a disposed at the opposing left and right inner side surfaces in the upper section, vertical ribs 53 projecting at the inner left and right sides, a horizontal rib 53a connecting the upper sections of the two vertical ribs, and turn control holes 54 formed therethrough at the inner upper corners. Numerical reference 50a in FIG. 6 denotes a U-shaped recess disposed on the outer surface of the front curved section 50, and the support holes 54 are formed therethrough at both sides. The sub-holder 6, together with the spring member 58, is assembled to the recess 52.

As shown in FIGS. 8(a)-8(c), the sub-holder 6 is formed so that the front surface 60 is a curved surface having substantially the same curvature as that of the front curved section 50. The back surface 61 forms a recess 61a for clearance for the vertical ribs 53 and the horizontal rib 53a, and has a rib 64 positioned in the middle upper section to define a small recess, and a plurality of guide ribs 65 projecting in the tip section. The upper sections at both ends are formed as small projections 62, and both side surfaces form shafts 63 in the upper section. In the small recess formed in the rib 64, two opposing shafts are disposed on the left and right, as shown in FIG. 8(b), and a coil spring member 58 is secured by the shafts. Each rib 65 is substantially arcuate in shape, and disposed near the tip end.

The sub-holder 6 described above is rotatably assembled to the recess 52, upon placing the spring member 58 within the rib 64, by inserting small projections 62 into the turn control holes 54 and fitting the shafts 63 on both sides into the corresponding shaft holes 52a. Subsequently, the spring member 58 is anchored to the hole disposed in the corresponding section (not shown) of the rib 64 on one end, and the horizontal rib 53a on the other end while generating biasing pressure. The sub-holder 6, as shown in FIG. 9(a), is rotated upward about the shafts 63 by the bias force of the spring member 58 to achieve the state where it is slanted slightly upward above the horizontal position in the holder hole when not in use or subjected to no downward load. In this case, when not in use as described above, the amount of upward rotation of the sub-holder 6 is controlled, as the top or the base end side is positioned between the upper surface of the vertical ribs 53 and the upper end surface of the recess 52, and the small projections 62 on both sides are fitted into the turn control holes 54. In this mode, the practical diameter of the holder hole becomes smallest, due to the presence of the sub-holder 6.

The main holder member 3 described above is pushed into the inner case 2 so that the ribs 39 on the upper side are fitted into the corresponding guide slots 27b while being resiliently displaced (see FIG. 13), and the shafts 56 of the side supporters 5 are arranged in the aforementioned cam grooves 27a. The main holder member 3, as a result, is assembled to the inner case 2 by fitting the projections 32a into the guide members 21 and the like so as to slide back and forth.

Operation

When assembled, the components described above relate to one another in the following manner. First, the inner case 2 becomes slidably switchable relative to the outer case 1 via the mating of the aforementioned projections 26a with the guide members 11, the aforementioned guide slot 15 with the sections forming the upper slots 24, and the like, between a stored position and a pulled-out position where the inner case is pulled forward. The movement of the main holder member 3 is restricted by the operable part 31 of the main holder member 3 and the stoppers 23a in the stored position, and by the abutting of the stoppers 23a against the front ends of the lower guide slots 14a in the pulled-out position. The main holder member 3 becomes slidably switchable relative to the inner case 2 via the fitting of the aforementioned projections 32a into the guide members 21, and the like, between a non-usable position and a usable position where it is pulled forward.

The movement of the main holder member is restricted by the operable part 31 in the non-usable position, and by the abutment of the ribs 39 against the stoppers 27c of the guide slots 27b in the usable position. The side supporters 5 are turned toward the vertical holes 33 and housed in the inner case 2 without rattling when the main holder member 3 is in the non-usable position, and becomes available for use as they are turned outward from the vertical holes 33 in the process in which the main holder member 3 is pulled out.

In this embodiment, an additional operation of the connecting member 4 is contrived in addition to the basic operation described above. This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 10-15.

FIG. 10 shows the non-usable state of the cup holder unit, wherein the inner case 2 is in the stored position and the main holder member 3 is in the non-usable position. In this state, the connecting member 4 is turned clockwise about the shaft 42 against the bias force of the spring member 46, as the abutment section 41 is pressed down towards the rear by the second wall 39b, i.e., in the direction to raise the tab 44 to the installation window 22b.

FIG. 11 shows an initial stage of the pulling operation of the operable part 31 by inserting fingers into the recess 31a from the state shown in FIG. 10. In this process, once the main holder member 3 is pulled forward, the first wall 39a abuts against the abutment section 45 from the back. Subsequently, the main holder member 3 and the inner case 2 achieve a connected state via the first wall 39a and the abutment section 45, and are pulled forward as a unit.

FIG. 12 shows the intermediary state where the inner case 2 and the main holder member 3 are being pulled out, together with the tab 44 of the connecting member 4 being engaged with the notched section 13a of the outer case. That is, the connecting member 4 is turned counterclockwise about the shaft 42 by the bias force of the spring member 46, i.e., in the direction to engage the tab 44 with the notched section 13a, once the inner case 2 and the main holder member 3 are pulled out together and the tab 44 reaches the notched section 13a. When engaged, further forward movement of the inner case 2 is prevented by the engagement of the stoppers 23a with the front ends of the lower guide slots 14a. The abutment section 45 is displaced downward as the connecting member 4 is turned as described above, and separated from the first wall 39a. That is, the main holder member 3 and the inner case 2 achieve a disengaged state.

FIG. 13 shows the state where the main holder member 3 is pulled out of the inner case 2 alone and switched to the usable position. The further forward movement of the main holder member 3 is prevented by the engagement of the flexible ribs 39 with the stoppers 27c of the guide slots 27b of the inner case. The side supporters 5, as shown in FIG. 3, rotate outward from the vertical holes 33 to achieve the deployed state in relation to the pull-out operation of the main holder member 3 from the inner case 2. At this point, the user can insert a container into the holder hole formed by the vertical hole 33 and the corresponding section of the side supporter 5, and pull out the container. As a container-holding mechanism, this cup holder unit has the following advantages as compared to the conventional construction.

First, the sub-holder 6, upon being subjected to a downward load as a container is inserted from above, is turned downward against the bias force of the spring member 58 about the shaft 63 until the container passes by, and abuts its tip end against the periphery of the container. In this structure, as shown in FIG. 9(b), when maximally turned downward, the sub-holder 6 is housed completely within the recess 52 to become flush with the inner wall surface of the front curved section 50. Thus, the diameter of the container that can be held is increased as compared to the conventional sub-holder even if the holder hole has the same diameter. In terms of the design, the holder hole can be reduced to some extent to make the cup holder unit more compact.

Second, although some containers have a rim at the bottom periphery or a narrower section, such a container received by the platform 34 can be pulled out smoothly from the condition where the periphery of the container is held by the vertical hole 33 and the tip of the sub-holder 6 in this construction. This is because the sub-holder 6 abuts its arcuate ribs 65 located at the tip section against such a rim or a narrower section of the container in order to prevent it from being caught. In addition, since the sub-holder 6 is designed to turn until it is tilted upward above the horizontal position, the rim or the narrower section of the container passes the sub-holder easily upon contact.

Third, disposing the sub-holder 6 to tilt upward above the horizontal position has the following additional effect. FIG. 16(b) shows a sub-holder 8 of a conventional type that is disposed at a level height or slightly tilted downward. In this case, if an extremely narrow container C tilts within the holder hole (33, 50) and hits the sub-holder 8, the load of the container C causes the sub-holder 8 to further tilt down because the sub-holder 8 is in a level likely to tilt, as indicated with chain dotted lines in the figure. Thus, the liquid content of the container spills more easily. In the sub-holder 6 of the present invention, as schematically shown in FIG. 16(a), on the other hand, even when such an extremely narrow container C tilts and hits the sub-holder 6, the sub-holder 6, which is tilted upward, never inadvertently tilts down.

FIG. 14 shows the intermediary state in which the operable part 31 is pushed by inserting fingers into the recess 31a from the state shown in FIG. 13 (when the cup holder unit is no longer necessary). When so pushed, the main holder member 3 is pushed into the inner case 2. At this time, the inner case 2 does not move, as the tab 44 is engaged with the notched section 13a. In this construction, moreover, the second wall 39b abuts against the abutment section 41 shortly before the time when the main holder member 3 is completely pushed into the inner case 2.

FIG. 15 shows the state in which the main holder member 3 is further pushed into the inner case 2. In this state, the connecting member 4 is turned clockwise about the shaft 42 against the bias force of the spring member 46, i.e., in the direction of separating the tab 44 from the notched section 13a, by the load applied to the abutment section 41 by the second wall 39b. Subsequently, the main holder member 3 is switched to the non-usable position where it is completely housed in the inner case 2, as shown in FIG. 1, and the inner case 2 is switched to the stored position where it is housed completely in the outer case 1. This construction, therefore, can achieve all of the objectives discussed earlier while, at the same time, reducing the number of components.

The embodiment described above does not in any way restrict the present invention. Various modifications are possible based on the embodiment.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-271773 filed on Sep. 17, 2004 is incorporated herein.

While the invention has been explained with reference to the specific embodiment of the invention, the explanation is illustrative, and the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cup holder unit comprising:

an outer case having a front opening and a notched section formed at a front side thereof,

an inner case having a front opening and slidable between a pulled-out position where the inner case is projected forward from the front opening of said outer case and a stored position where the inner case is stored in the outer case,

a main holder member slidable between a usable position where the main holder member is pulled out forward from the front opening of said inner case and a non-usable position where the main holder member is stored in said inner case,

a connecting member pivotally supported on said inner case, and having an abutment section formed at a front side thereof to abut against a corresponding section of said main holder member halfway through pulling of said main holder member from the non-usable position while said inner case is in the stored position so that said main holder member can be pulled out together with the inner case, a tab formed at the front side to engage said notched section when said inner case is substantially fully pulled out to the pulled-out position, and a disengaging abutment section disposed in a rear side thereof to disengage said tab from said notched section by abutting against the corresponding section of the main holder member halfway through pushing said main holder member from the usable position to the non-usable position, and

a spring member to bias said connecting member in a direction of engaging said tab with said notched section.

2. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer case has a guide slot, and said inner case has a projection fitted with the guide slot, said inner case being restricted from sliding from the pulled-out position to the stored position while said tab is engaged with said notched section and being restricted from sliding further forward from the pulled-out position while said projection abuts against the front end of said guide slot.

3. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said corresponding section is a wall formed in the main holder member, said wall engaging the abutment section when said main holder member is pulled from the non-usable position, and pushing the disengaging abutment section when the main holder member is moved to the non-usable position.

4. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main holder member includes a supporting device with a recess for supporting a container, a sub-holder pivotally supported by the supporting device to practically change a diameter of a holder hole in the supporting device, and a spring attached to the sub-holder for pushing the sub-holder toward an inside of the holder hole, said recess having a size so that the sub-holder is substantially completely located in the recess and becomes flush with a surface of an inner wall of the supporting device when turned downward.

5. A cup holder unit comprising:

an outer case having a front opening,

an inner case slidable between a pulled-out position where the inner case is projected forward from the front opening of said outer case and a stored position where the inner case is stored in said outer case, and

a main holder member slidable between a usable position where the main holder member is pulled out forward from the front opening of said inner case and a non-usable position where the main holder member is stored in said inner case, said main holder member including a supporting device with a recess for supporting a container, a sub-holder pivotally supported by the supporting device to practically change a diameter of a holder hole in the supporting device, and a spring attached to the sub-holder for pushing the sub-holder toward the holder hole, said recess having a size so that the sub-holder is substantially completely located in the recess and becomes flush with a surface of an inner wall of the supporting device when turned downward.

6. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said supporting device includes a platform to receive a bottom of the container, and a side supporter for defining the holder hole for the container and supporting a periphery of the container, said recess being formed in the side supporter.

7. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein said sub-holder is positioned within said holder hole and tilted slightly upward above a horizontal position when not subjected to a downward load, and has a guide rib projecting in a surface near a tip end thereof to prevent the container from getting caught.

8. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said main holder member has an open-sided vertical hole disposed above said platform to support a portion of the container and a pivotally supported side supporter biased in a direction to open sidewise to form said holder hole in conjunction with said vertical hole, said sub-holder being installed to said side supporter.