JP2005329753A - Cup holder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a better showing by preparing a uniform illumination state without unevenness in a circumferential direction by a relatively simple constitution when a cup holder is illuminated in the darkness state such as night. <P>SOLUTION: The cup holder 1 is formed so as to have an upper surface opening 11 inserted with a drink container 51. In the cup holder 1, a light source 30 is arranged at a predetermined position of the upper surface opening 11 or a neighborhood position and illumination is performed. The light source 30 is formed into a thin film shape using an electro-luminescence material and is constituted such that it is arranged around an opening of the upper surface opening 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cup holder. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cup holder that is installed in a passenger compartment of a vehicle such as an automobile and can hold drink containers such as various beverage cups.

Conventionally, for example, in a vehicle interior of a vehicle such as an automobile, a cup holder for temporarily holding a beverage container such as a beverage cup is installed at a predetermined location such as an instrument panel or a console box. . Specifically, the upper surface opening having a circular shape or the like is formed in the holder body of the cup holder. At the time of use, the beverage container can be set in a holding state by being set so as to be dropped into the upper surface opening.
By the way, when such a cup holder becomes dark in the vehicle interior at night, for example, it is difficult to visually recognize the installation position. Therefore, for example, a light source such as an LED or a bulb is arranged at a predetermined position in the receiving hole of the cup holder so that illumination can be performed so that an indicator of the position can be clearly seen even when the vehicle interior is dark. There is what I did. In addition, as this kind of related technology, what is disclosed by the postscript patent document 1 is mentioned, for example.

JP-A-11-31070

However, in the conventional technique described above, that is, a type in which illumination is performed by arranging light sources such as LEDs and bulbs serving as illumination means at predetermined positions in the receiving holes of the cup holder, the illumination state is local. The lighting effect could not be obtained due to unevenness.
More specifically, these light sources are arranged so that light is emitted from small holes formed in the receiving holes of the cup holder. That is, the LED or bulb has a small area in the wall surface so that the protruding portion surface does not protrude into the receiving hole because the portion surface that emits light is formed in a spherical shape or the like and has a large protruding area. Was formed and embedded in this. Therefore, the illumination state becomes local. Furthermore, the beverage container is set in the receiving hole, so that the light is blocked and as a result, the appearance is impaired.
Further, for example, it has been considered that the inner peripheral wall surface of the cup holder has a transparent structure, and the inner peripheral wall surface is illuminated extensively by irradiating light from the inside of the wall surface. As the distance from the light source increases, the brightness of the part that becomes the optical path attenuates. Therefore, especially the light source part is locally brightly illuminated, and the appearance is impaired.
In addition, it is conceivable that a plurality of light sources such as LEDs and bulbs are arranged along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral wall surface of the cup holder. Even in this case, each light source is locally brightly illuminated. Only. Accordingly, it is difficult to make the illumination state in the circumferential direction uniform, and it has been impossible to achieve a uniform illumination state without using a considerable number of light sources. In addition, unnecessarily increasing the number of light sources in this manner not only complicates the manufacturing process of the product, but also increases the cost.

  The present invention was devised as a solution to the above-described problem, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to illuminate the cup holder in a dark state such as at night by a relatively simple configuration. The illumination state is uniform in the circumferential direction and the appearance is improved.

In order to solve the above problems, the cup holder of the present invention takes the following means.
First, the first invention of the present invention is a cup holder that is formed with an upper surface opening for inserting a beverage container, and is illuminated with a light source arranged at a predetermined portion at the upper surface opening or in the vicinity. The light source is formed in a thin film shape using an electroluminescent material and is disposed around the opening of the upper surface opening.
Here, a light source formed using an electroluminescent material is said to be excellent in dispersibility of illumination during lighting. That is, the part where the light source is installed can be illuminated uniformly.
According to the first aspect of the invention, the thin film light source formed using the electroluminescent material is disposed around the opening of the upper surface opening. Accordingly, the light emitted from the light source uniformly illuminates the portion around the opening of the upper surface opening of the cup holder where the light source is disposed in the circumferential direction. In addition, since the light source is in the form of a thin film, for example, the protruding area of the surface of the portion that emits light is small compared to the case where a light source such as a bulb is used (the portion that emits light has a spherical shape or the like). Therefore, it is possible to easily arrange the thin-film light source along the periphery of the opening without protruding into the receiving hole. And the circumference | surroundings of opening of the upper surface opening part of a cup holder are illuminated effectively by the light emitted from a light source.

Next, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect described above, the thin-film light source is formed in a strip shape, and the longitudinal direction of the strip shape is along the peripheral wall surface around the opening of the upper surface opening. Are arranged.
Here, when the thin film light source is formed into a ring shape (endless edge shape), for example, in accordance with the shape of the upper surface opening of the cup holder, the center of the thin film sheet that is the opening portion is struck at the time of processing. It is extracted and molded. That is, the punched part becomes scrap.
According to the second aspect of the invention, the strip-shaped light source can be formed such that the portion that is punched out of the thin film-like sheet at the time of processing to be scraped is reduced, or scrap is not generated. Further, when the diameter and shape of the upper surface opening are variously different, it can be dealt with by adjusting the length of the strip to match the circumference of the peripheral wall surface to be installed.

Next, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect described above, the controller for turning on and off the light source includes at least one of a lighting operation and a turning-off operation. Control means is provided that operates while changing the brightness of light emitted from the light source stepwise.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the brightness of the light emitted from the light source is changed stepwise by the control means provided in the controller at least during the lighting operation or the extinguishing operation of the light source. It works while. In other words, when the lighting operation is performed, when the lighting operation is performed, the brightness is gradually increased from the unlit state. In addition, when it is changed at the time of turning off the light, the lightness is gradually reduced from the lighting state.

The present invention can obtain the following effects by taking the above-described means.
First, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the light source is formed in a thin film shape using an electroluminescent material, an effective illumination state is obtained without causing the light source to protrude into the receiving hole of the cup holder. It can be arranged in a simple configuration. That is, since the part surface that emits light is arranged along the periphery of the opening of the upper surface opening, it is possible to make the part where the light source is arranged effective and uniform in the circumferential direction without unevenness. it can. Therefore, the appearance of the illumination state of the cup holder can be improved.
Furthermore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the ratio (yield) of the product (light source) formed from the thin sheet is improved. In addition, even when the diameter and shape of the upper surface opening are variously different, it can be easily handled only by adjusting the length of the light source, so that it can be used for general purposes.
Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to produce a high quality lighting state at least one of the time when the light source is turned on and the time when the light is turned off.

Embodiments of the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 to 5 show an embodiment of the cup holder 1. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance and assembled state of the cup holder 1, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the light source 30, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a control board 43 that performs electrical control of the light source 30.
1 and 3, the cup holder 1 of the present embodiment is provided integrally with the console box 52 and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape capable of holding the inserted beverage container 51. Yes. Specifically, the holder portion 10 of the cup holder 1 is formed with a receiving hole 12 having an upper surface opening 11 for inserting the beverage container 51. An installation site 13a is formed in the circumferential direction on the peripheral wall surface 13 around the opening of the upper surface opening 11, and a strip-shaped light source 30 is arranged along the installation site 13a. Further, a lid member 20 for covering and protecting the arranged light source 30 is fitted into the upper surface opening 11.

Specifically, the holder part 10 is formed such that the receiving hole 12 is gently expanded toward the upper surface opening 11, and the upper surface opening 11 has a ring shape. The holder part 10 is entirely made of resin and is formed integrally with the surface panel of the console box 52.
Next, the lid member 20 is made of a translucent acrylic resin, and scatters the light emitted from the light source 30 arranged as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 from the outer peripheral wall surface 21 to the inner peripheral wall surface 22. And has a characteristic of being transmitted through the upper wall surface 23.

Next, the strip-shaped light source 30 is formed in a thin film shape (see FIG. 2) using an electroluminescent material, and includes an electrode 31 at one end side portion. Specifically, when the light source 30 applies a predetermined voltage to the electrode 31, the entire light source 30 formed in a strip shape emits light. Moreover, since the light source 30 is excellent in the dispersibility of the illumination at the time of lighting, it can light-emit uniformly the whole strip-shaped longitudinal direction (refer FIG. 2). As shown well in FIG. 1, the light source 30 is arranged along the installation site 13 a formed in the peripheral wall surface 13 around the opening of the upper surface opening 11 of the cup holder 1 in the strip-like longitudinal direction. Specifically, the strip-like length of the light source 30 is set and processed so as to match the peripheral length of the peripheral wall surface 13 around the opening of the upper surface opening 11 at the time of manufacture.
Therefore, for example, when the light source 30 is processed and molded, as compared with the case where the center is punched into a ring shape (endless edge shape) in accordance with the shape of the upper surface opening 11, it is punched and scrapped. The number of parts to be formed is reduced, or molding is performed so as not to generate scrap.
Further, as described above, since the light source 30 is in a thin film shape, for example, a part that emits light compared to a case where a light source such as a bulb is used (the part that emits light has a spherical shape or the like). The protruding area of the surface is small. Therefore, when the thin-film light source 30 is disposed in the upper surface opening 11, the strip-shaped longitudinal direction of the light source 30 is disposed along the installation site 13 a formed on the peripheral wall surface 13 around the opening of the upper surface opening 11. Just do it. Thereby, the light source 30 is arranged along the periphery of the opening without protruding into the receiving hole 12. Then, the translucent lid member 20 is fitted from above. Specifically, as well shown in FIG. 3, the light source 30 is disposed in the thickness direction between the outer peripheral wall surface 21 of the lid member 20 and the installation site 13 a of the peripheral wall surface 13 of the cup holder 1. To do.

  Next, as well shown in FIG. 4, a controller unit 40 for supplying electric power to the light source 30 and performing electric control is provided outside the peripheral wall surface 13 of the holder portion 10 of the cup holder 1 (to the controller of the present invention). Corresponding) is provided. Specifically, the controller unit 40 includes a connector 41 connected to the electrode 31 of the light source 30, a lead wire 42, and a control base 43 (fixed to the cup holder 1 by screws 50). The power is wired so as to be supplied from the illumination of the vehicle. According to the controller unit 40, when the light source 30 is turned on, the controller unit 40 can be operated while changing the brightness of the light emitted from the light source 30 in a stepwise manner. That is, when the controller unit 40 performs the lighting operation, the light source 30 is rendered such that the brightness gradually increases from the extinguished state. Hereinafter, a circuit diagram of the control board 43 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, CN1-1, CN1-2, CN2-1, and CN2-2 shown in FIG. 5 are channels indicating connection terminals, and in order of batteries supplied when the illumination switch of the vehicle is turned on. 12V, GND (battery negative), the positive electrode 31 of the light source 30, and the negative electrode 31 are connected.
The circuit diagram is roughly classified into a power supply circuit 44, a delay circuit 45, a constant voltage circuit 46, and an oscillation / boosting circuit 47, and each circuit will be described below.
First, in the power supply circuit 44, D1 is a diode for protecting the circuit when the battery is reversely connected, and C4 is a capacitor for stabilizing the power supply.
Next, in the delay circuit 45, SW1 is a detection switch that is switched by detecting that the illumination switch is turned on, and R1 and C1 are resistors for gradually increasing the voltage supplied to the constant voltage circuit 46 described later. And a capacitor. The delay circuit 45 corresponds to the control means of the present invention.
Next, TR1 and TR2 in the constant voltage circuit 46 are transistors, and these are connected in a Darlington transistor connection in order to increase the base current supplied from the delay circuit 45 to the TR2. Furthermore, ZD1 is a Zener diode for generating a reference voltage, and C1 and C3 are capacitors provided for noise removal and for stabilizing the constant voltage circuit 46, respectively.
Next, in the oscillation / boost circuit 47, T1 is a transformer that boosts the voltage by the ratio of the number of NE coil turns and the number of NS coil turns, and TR3 is a transistor for driving the NE coil, and the oscillation frequency is determined by these configurations. It is like that. Further, C5 is a capacitor, and is configured so that feedback is applied to TR3 by the NB coil of T1, thereby forming an oscillation circuit. Further, R4 and R5 are resistors for determining the operating potential of TR3, and C2 is a capacitor used for noise removal.
Therefore, the light source 30 emits light with a driving waveform of about 400 Hz at 100 VAC by the power supplied by these configurations. In addition, during the lighting operation, the voltage supplied from the delay circuit 45 gradually increases, so that the brightness of the light source 30 is increased accordingly.

Then, the usage method of the cup holder 1 of a present Example is demonstrated.
In the cup holder 1 assembled as described above, the thin-film light source 30 is disposed along the installation site 13 a (around the opening of the upper surface opening 11) of the peripheral wall surface 13. Then, power is supplied from the controller unit 40 to the light source 30 by turning on the illumination switch of the vehicle. At this time, the delay circuit 45 provided in the controller unit 40 is controlled so that the voltage supplied to the light source 30 gradually increases. Therefore, the light source 30 is produced so that the brightness gradually increases during the lighting operation. Further, since the light source 30 is formed using an electroluminescent material, the entire strip-like shape emits light uniformly when turned on. Therefore, the periphery of the opening of the upper surface opening 11 is uniformly illuminated in the circumferential direction.
The light source 30 is turned off by turning off the illumination switch. Specifically, since the power supply from the controller unit to the light source 30 of 40 is cut off, the light is turned off.

Thus, the cup holder 1 of the present embodiment is such that the light source 30 is formed in a thin film shape using an electroluminescent material, so that the protruding area of the part surface that emits light is small. Therefore, when the light source 30 is installed in the cup holder 1, a portion surface that emits light can be arranged around the opening of the upper surface opening 11 without causing the light source 30 to protrude into the receiving hole 12. That is, it is possible to arrange the light source 30 at a position where the light is effectively emitted with a simple configuration. Moreover, since the illumination state by the light source 30 of the cup holder 1 can be made uniform without any unevenness in the circumferential direction, the appearance can be improved.
Furthermore, the thin-film light source 30 is formed in a strip shape. Therefore, regardless of the diameter and shape of the upper surface opening 11, it is possible to cope with various products only by adjusting the length of the strip shape according to the circumference. Therefore, general use can be achieved. In addition, since it is possible to make a design in which scrap does not easily occur at the time of processing and molding, the ratio (yield) of the product (light source 30) is good.
Furthermore, since the brightness of the light emitted from the light source 30 during the lighting operation can be gradually increased by the delay circuit 45 of the controller unit 40 corresponding to the control means of the present invention, the illumination state is rendered high quality. be able to.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described with respect to one example, the present invention can be implemented in various forms in addition to the above-described example.
First, in the present embodiment, the cover member 20 using a translucent acrylic resin is shown. However, for example, a thin film may be formed by vapor-depositing a thin film on a transparent resin. . Thereby, even when the illumination is turned off in the daytime or the like, the appearance of the cup holder can be improved.
In addition, although the cover member 20 is used to cover the light source 30, a groove is provided in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall surface 13 without using the cover member 20, and the light source 30 is provided in the groove. It may be arranged. Even in this case, the illumination state can be uniform in the circumferential direction.
Further, although the detection switch SW1 in the delay circuit 45 of the controller unit 40 is shown to operate when the illumination switch is switched, it may be configured to operate in accordance with other switches. For example, in the case of a type in which a door for opening and closing the upper surface opening of the cup holder is provided, SW1 is activated according to the opening / closing operation of the door.
Further, the cup holder 1 has a bottomed cylindrical shape integrally provided in the console box 52 (the top opening 11 has an endless edge shape), but the cup holder 1 is used in other shapes. Is also possible. For example, even when the upper surface opening of the holder part for holding the beverage container from the side is formed in an end shape such as a C-shape, provided in other places such as an instrument panel, A light source can be applied as in this embodiment. That is, it is only necessary to set the strip-like length of the thin-film light source in accordance with the peripheral length of the upper surface processed portion to be applied regardless of whether the upper surface opening has an end edge shape or an endless edge shape. .
Further, although the controller unit 40 has been shown to gradually increase the lightness when the light source 30 is turned on, the lightness may be gradually decreased when the light source 30 is turned off. In this case, it is possible to produce a high-quality effect when the light is turned off.
Further, although the light source 30 has a strip shape, for example, the light source 30 may be formed by punching the center into a ring shape in accordance with the shape of the upper surface opening. In this case, the punched portion will be generated as scrap, but the amount of protrusion in the vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the light emitting surface) when installing in the cup holder can be suppressed, and it is preferable. It is.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance and assembly | attachment state of the cup holder of a present Example. It is a perspective view of a light source. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the wiring state of a light source. It is a circuit diagram of the control board which performs electric control of a light source.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cup holder 10 Holder part 11 Upper surface opening part 12 Receiving hole 13 Peripheral wall surface 13a Installation part 20 Lid member 21 Outer peripheral wall surface 22 Inner peripheral wall surface 23 Upper wall surface 30 Light source 31 Electrode 40 Controller unit (controller)
41 Connector 42 Lead wire 43 Control board 44 Power supply circuit 45 Delay circuit (control means)
46 Constant voltage circuit 47 Oscillation / Boost circuit 50 Screw 51 Beverage container 52 Console box

Claims (3)

A cup holder that is formed with an upper surface opening for inserting a beverage container, and is illuminated by a light source disposed at a predetermined portion in the upper surface opening or in the vicinity thereof,
The said light source is formed in thin film form using the electroluminescent material, and is arrange | positioned along the opening periphery of the said upper surface opening part. The cup holder according to claim 1,
The thin-film light source is formed in a strip shape, and the longitudinal direction of the strip shape is arranged along a peripheral wall surface around the opening of the upper surface opening. The cup holder according to claim 1 or 2,
The controller that turns on and off the light source is provided with a control unit that operates while changing the brightness of the light emitted from the light source in a stepwise manner at least at one of the time of turning on and off. A cup holder characterized by that.

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