JP2006206148A - Structure of storage box - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure of a storage box which demonstrates great beauty and uniqueness for fanciness of the light by getting the best out of the storage space of a case storing a disc-shape data recording medium, and utilizing the case as a light irradiating body. <P>SOLUTION: In the structure of the storage box 1, the plurality sheets of disc shaped data recording mediums are stored with the case 4 arranging in an upright state. The surface 5 wherein any one of the side edge part of the case 4 arranged in the upright state contacts is equipped with a planar light source 6 emitting light as a whole. The height position of an opening part 3 is set to be the height position where a part of area of the case 4 is exposed to the outside when storing the case 4 storing the data recording mediums, or it can be viewed from the outside when illuminated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a storage box capable of checking at a glance the storage status of a disk-shaped data recording medium such as a music CD, MD, or DVD, and in particular, a storage box suitable for installation in a vehicle compartment. Related to the structure.

  Showcases, transparent cabinets (container boxes), and the like that are configured to illuminate products and the like housed therein by light emission from light sources are widely used in the commercial industry and the like in order to contribute to commercial results. In particular, a transparent cabinet or the like that emits light tends to be used in ordinary households in order to exhibit light illumination.

  However, when a light-emitting showcase or transparent cabinet is used in a store or a general household, the design is impaired if the presence of the light source enters the viewing angle. For this reason, special consideration is required for the installation of the light source.

  In a showcase that considers the installation of the light source, for example, a light source device is arranged in another compartment at a low position outside the exhibition container, and one end of a round bar-shaped light guide member that guides light emission of the light source device is displayed. It is known that a prism is provided that guides light emitted from a light guide member to a corner above the object storage unit and administers light emitted from the light guide member into the exhibit storage unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, the above-described showcase requires a large area in the section where the light source device is disposed, and the configuration is complicated, so that it is not suitable for general household use. Of course, it is also unsuitable for the need to arrange and store music CDs, MDs, etc. as small articles.

  On the other hand, in a cabinet that considers the installation of the light source, for example, an opening is provided at the front, a back plate is a light guide plate, and an illumination box with a lighting fixture is provided inside the ground plate. The thing of making it oppose the lower end part of the light-guide plate as a board is known (for example, refer patent document 2).

  However, the above-mentioned cabinet narrows the area of the accommodation space in order to arrange the lighting box in the accommodation space of the stored items surrounded by the top plate, the ground plate, and the side plates. Moreover, for example, even when music CDs, MDs, etc. are fully accommodated, the thickness dimension of the lighting box must be increased by that amount in order to ensure an appropriate operability of the switch. For this reason, the area | region of accommodation space is narrowed further and design property also falls.

  By the way, at present, so-called household or vehicle installation cabinets (accommodating boxes) are often used for the purpose of accommodating music CDs, MDs, DVDs and the like together with their cases. In particular, there is a need for a device that can easily identify and take out a required music CD even when the room is dark. Further, even if the cabinet (container box) for home use or vehicle installation is dark in the room, if the cabinet (container box) itself emits light, the room can be decorated with light illumination. The utility value is also found in this respect, that is, it is attracting attention as one of the decorative items of light.

  In a music CD cabinet (container box) provided with a light source, for example, first, as shown in FIG. 6, a bottom surface 11 and front, rear, left and right side surfaces 12 are integrated in advance, and an opening 13 is formed in an upper portion. Is formed, and a light emitter 15 is disposed outside the opening 13, and the light emission of the light emitter 15 is directed to the opening 13, that is, a case 16 for storing each stored music CD or the like. There is a storage box 17 that irradiates in a direction such as.

For example, secondly, as shown in FIG. 7, a bottom body 21 and front and rear, left and right side surfaces 22 are integrated in advance to form a box body 24 in which one open port 23 is formed in an upper portion. Grooves 26 for installing the light emitters 25 are formed on the outside of the bottom surface 21 at predetermined intervals, and a partition box 27 made of transparent material is arranged in the music CD housing space 28 from the vicinity of each groove 26. There is.
JP 2001-312912 A JP-A-5-137622

  However, in the conventional storage box 17 shown in FIG. 6, the presence of the light emitter 15 protruding to the outside not only becomes an obstacle, but the case 16 itself for a music CD that can be a light guide plate is used as a light guide plate (light irradiator). It cannot be used, and there is a problem that the decorativeness of light is simple and easy to get tired.

  In the conventional storage box 29 shown in FIG. 7, the partition plate 27 can be used as a light guide plate, but all the music CD cases themselves are used as a light guide plate (light irradiator). Is an inadequate configuration. In addition, the presence of each partition plate 27 results in a narrowing of the area in the music CD accommodating space 28, and there is a problem that the area of the accommodating space 28 cannot be widely used.

  The present invention improves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and can make the most of the storage space of a disk-shaped data recording medium such as a music CD, MD, or DVD, and the data recording medium. The case itself can also be used as a light illuminator, and the purpose of this is to provide a structure of a storage box that can exhibit exceptional beauty and uniqueness in the decorativeness of light. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a structure of a storage box for storing a plurality of disk-shaped data recording media together with the case in a standing state, and the case arranged in the standing state. The surface which either side edge part contacts is provided with the planar light source which light-emits the whole.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the planar light source according to the first aspect of the present invention is formed of a surface light emitter by an array of a plurality of LEDs, or an electroluminescence plate or a light guide plastic flat sheet. It is the structure of the storage box characterized by this.

  Further, the invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the upper surface portion and the bottom surface portion of the case extends in a plane direction from one side edge portion to the other side edge portion. The container has a translucency, and the surface light source is provided on a surface that contacts any one of these side edges.

  The invention of claim 4 has an opening for inserting the case in the invention of claim 3, and the height position of the opening is a part of the case when the case is accommodated. The storage box structure is characterized in that the region is a height position that can be visually recognized from the outside during illumination.

  On the other hand, the invention of claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the case is disposed in the vicinity of the side edge of the case opposite to the side edge of the planar light source. And a sensor for sensing the light emitted from the planar light source that has passed through the container, and a control means for performing a predetermined display based on an output signal of the sensor. .

  Further, the invention of claim 6 is a storage box structure characterized in that, instead of the planar light source in the invention of claim 5, a light emitting portion is provided corresponding to the position where the case stands. is there.

  According to the present invention, since a part of the storage box can emit light and illuminate the inside thereof, there is no need to provide a space for the light source, and as a result, the storage box itself can be arranged compactly. At the same time, the internal space can be used to the maximum extent possible. Further, when the case is made of a translucent material, light from the planar light source is guided to the edge on the opening side of the case accommodated in a standing state, and the edge is Since it shines, not only the presence or absence of a case, but also whether or not a data recording medium is contained in the case can be easily visually confirmed, and the beauty and uniqueness of light decoration is demonstrated.

  In particular, in the invention according to claim 5 or claim 6, since the case serves as a light guide means for the sensor, the presence or absence of the case can be detected by the sensor, and the presence or absence of the case is displayed at a predetermined location. Therefore, even when the storage box is closed by the lid or when it is hard to see because it is out of the user's field of view, the presence or absence of the case can be known.

  Next, specific examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are diagrams showing specific examples of the present invention.

  A storage box 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a plate-like side surface 2 that is vertically integrated in front, rear, left, and right. These side surfaces 2 can be made of a synthetic resin as an example, and are generally opaque, but a predetermined resin or the like that is colorless and transparent or has a light guiding property may be used. . Further, the side surface 2 has either a form in which the lateral ends of the four resin plates are connected (joined) or a form processed in advance like a so-called square frame having a predetermined height by injection molding or the like. It may be adopted. However, an arbitrary method may be used for the connection method, and the connection method is not limited to one method such as adhesion.

  The side surface 2 has an upper end that is uniformly formed on a horizontal end surface, and a portion surrounded by each end surface forms an opening 3. The inside of the side surface 2 from the opening 3 forms an article storage area. The opening 3 is always open so as to allow the parts to be taken into and out of the accommodation area. Or the structure which attached the suitable cover body so that opening and closing was possible may be sufficient. In this example, the square opening area of the opening 3 is such that a disk-like data recording medium such as a music CD or MD, or a CD or DVD for other purposes is arranged vertically along with the case 4 as an article (in an upright state). And) having an opening area for accommodating a predetermined number of sheets without any gaps. Since the side surface 2 is uniformly vertical, the volume of the accommodation region is also proportional to the opening area of the opening 3.

  On the other hand, the height dimension of the side surface 2 is a height dimension that exposes a part of the upper area of the case 4 to the outside when the case 4 that accommodates the data recording medium in the accommodation area is accommodated, or during illumination. The height is set to be visible from the outside. That is, the height dimension of the side surface 2 is a height dimension that is somewhat smaller than the height dimension of the case 4 accommodated in the vertical direction. However, as will be described in detail later, the installation position of the planar light source 6 provided on the bottom surface side of the side surface 2 is at a position where it enters the storage area of the article to some extent, so that a part of the case 4 at the time of storage can be When projecting to the outside, the height dimension of the side surface 2 may be higher than the height dimension of the case 4. In this example, the latter mode is adopted.

  The storage box 1 is provided with a bottom surface 5 (see FIG. 2) formed of a predetermined resin or the like that is colorless and transparent or colored and has a light guide property. The bottom surface 5 is either of a form in which the peripheral end face side is connected (joined) to the lower end portion side of the side face 2 surrounding the four sides, or a form integrally processed with the side face 2 in advance by injection molding or the like. May be adopted. However, when connecting, the bottom surface 5 does not necessarily have a light guide property, and an arbitrary material may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a planar light source 6 that emits light over at least substantially the entire region is installed on the inner surface side of the bottom surface 5, that is, the inner surface side that constitutes the article storage region. The planar light source 6 has, for example, a configuration in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged in a grid pattern over the entire area on the bottom surface 5, or an electro having an area corresponding to the entire area in the space for storing articles on the bottom surface 5. Any of the surface light emitters may be adopted depending on either the form constituted by the luminescence plate or the surface light emitter using the light guide sheet in the form of a light guide. In any case, the emission color of the planar light source 6 can be set to an arbitrary emission color. However, when adopting the former form, it is preferable to mount a plurality of LEDs and use a base-like insulating member that protects each LED. On the upper surface of the planar light source 6, a plurality of ribs 6 </ b> B are provided in parallel with each other to determine the housing position of the case 4.

  In addition, when the bottom surface 5 has transparency or light guide property, the planar light source 6 may be installed in a form in close contact with the outer surface side of the bottom surface 5. When the planar light source 6 is installed on the inner surface side of the bottom surface 5, a configuration for processing the wiring for energizing the planar light source 6 on the bottom surface 5 or the side surface 2, or a wiring pattern is formed with a through hole or the like It is necessary to consider the configuration to be performed. On the other hand, when the planar light source 6 is installed on the outer surface side of the bottom surface 5, it is not necessary to perform a wiring process for energization or a wiring pattern forming process on the bottom surface 5 or the side surface 2. Is possible. Furthermore, the bottom surface 5 itself may be composed of a planar light emitter.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the case 4 containing the data recording medium is accommodated in the storage box 1 and the planar light source 6 emits light, the case 4 is generally formed of a light guide member such as acrylic. In many cases, at least one of the upper surface portion or the bottom surface portion has translucency in the surface direction from the predetermined edge portion to the other edge portion. The case 4 also guides the light emission of the planar light source 6 and irradiates light from the upper end portion.

  The light irradiation of the case 4 illuminates the title characters of the data recording medium located inside the upper end surface of the case 4 so that the title can be read brightly at a glance even in a dark place. Each case 4 also projects light from each side surface of each case 4 because part of the case 4 protrudes upward from the side surface 2. Due to the synergistic effect, the title characters in the upper end surface of each case 4 are illuminated more brightly, and the surroundings are also illuminated brightly, so that a so-called indoor lighting effect is also exhibited. In addition, when it is set as the structure which provided the light guide property to the side surface 2, when the planar light source 6 is light-emitted, light irradiation will also appear from the end surface of the upper end of the side surface 2. FIG. This light irradiation also brightens the surroundings. In addition, the code | symbol a in FIG. 3 shows irradiation of light.

  In the case of a general household, the storage box 1 uses a battery, a battery, or a commercial power source as its power source. On the other hand, in the case of vehicle installation, that is, in the case of installation in a vehicle console box, center console box, or other arbitrary location, an in-vehicle battery is used as the power source. It is also preferable to set a mechanism in which the planar light source 6 emits light when the vehicle light, the vehicle width lamp, and the like are turned on.

  In addition, a general operation-type ON-OFF switch may be used as the light emission control switch, but a touch sensor that adds conductivity to the side surface 2 and detects human contact with the side surface 2 by static electricity or the like is used. This aspect is also preferable.

  In the storage box 1 according to this embodiment, since the planar light source 6 that emits light over the entire area is installed on the bottom surface side or the back surface side, that is, the surface side where the side edge of the case 4 contacts, All cases 4 accommodating the data recording medium can be irradiated with bright light evenly because of their light guiding properties. That is, the case 4 can be used as a light irradiator. It is possible to easily increase the luminous power of the planar light source 6 by adjusting the power, and the light irradiation from the case 4 can be set to any appropriate brightness in advance.

  In particular, all the cases 4 being accommodated emit light from the planar light source 6 and radiate bright light from the upper edge of each surface, and titles below the upper surface surrounded by the bright light irradiating edge. This makes it possible to read characters and the like brightly. For this reason, the desired case 4 can be easily selected even in a dark place. All cases 4 are accommodated in a form in which a part of the upper end side (title display side) protrudes to the outside. Therefore, when light is emitted by guiding the light emitted from the planar light source 6, light irradiation is performed. Wide area and synergistic effect, brighten the surroundings and also produce indoor lighting effects.

  As for the illumination of light, it is beautiful and unique by combining the illumination of light from the edge of the upper end surface of each case 4 and the reflection of bright light in colorful shades such as title letters under the upper end surface. Is demonstrated. At the same time, since light is also irradiated from the end surface of the upper end of the side surface 2 that is at least one level lower than the upper end surface of the case 4, it is even more beautiful and unique from this viewpoint.

  Further, in the storage box 1, there is no member that blocks the storage space for the articles, the storage space surrounded by the side surface 2 can be utilized to the maximum, and the orderly storage of the case 4 is excellent. An extra member is not required, it is slim, and it is excellent in the accommodation property in the room of a general household, and the installation property in a vehicle room. In addition, there is no member that degrades the design, and therefore, the design that is brought out from the direct relationship between the accommodation space and the side surface 2 is utilized to the maximum. Moreover, even if the planar light source 6 is visible from the outside through the opening 3, it does not cause a decrease in design, and contributes to an improvement in design because of the aesthetic appearance of the structure.

  Next, another example of the present invention will be described. The storage box 1 of the present invention may be provided with a lid body 7, in which case the sensor 8 is attached to the inner surface side of the lid body 7 so that the presence or absence of the case 4 can be detected. An example thereof is shown in FIG. 4, and a sensor 8 made of a photodiode or the like on the inner surface side of the lid body 7, that is, the side edge portion opposite to the side edge portion in contact with the planar light source 6 of the case 4 corresponds to the case 4. The surface side (that is, the inner surface of the lid body 7) is a light receiving surface 9 made of a light guide sheet. Further, a controller 10 is provided that receives a signal output from the sensor 8 and displays the position of the sensor 8.

  Further, the example shown in FIG. 5 is an example in which a light emitting element 6 </ b> A such as an LED is provided corresponding to the case 4 in the housing box 1 in place of the planar light source 6. That is, a flat cable 10A such as a flexible printed wiring board or a flat cable is disposed on the bottom surface 5 of the storage box 1, and a light emitting element 6A is attached to a position corresponding to the case 4 of the flat cable 10A. ing. Similarly, a flat cable 10B is provided inside the lid body 7, and a sensor 8 such as a photodiode is attached to a location corresponding to the case 4 of the flat cable 10B. Further, in the configuration shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of ribs 5 </ b> B having a predetermined interval for determining the accommodation position of the case 4 are provided in parallel to each other on the surface side of the bottom plate constituting the bottom surface 5.

  4 and 5, when the case 4 is housed in a predetermined position inside the housing box 1 in a standing state, the light emitted from the planar light source 6 or the light emitting element 6A is It reaches the sensor 8 through the light guide surface portion or the bottom surface portion constituting the case 4. Then, the sensor 8 outputs a signal, and based on this signal, the controller 10 displays the position of the sensor 8 that receives the light and emits the signal.

  In this way, the location displayed by the controller 10 can be set to either the outer surface of the lid 7 or an appropriate location away from the storage box 1, and therefore the case where the storage box 1 is closed by the lid 7. Even in such a case, the number of accommodated cases 4 and their positions can be easily known. In particular, in a vehicle, when the storage box 1 is provided at a location deviating from the driver's front view, the display location by the controller 10 is set within the range of the driver's front view, There is an effect that the frequency of removing the line of sight from the front can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the bottom surface 5 is provided has been described. However, the gist of the present invention is not limited to this, that is, the bottom surface 5 is not used, and the bottom side of the side surface 2 surrounding the four sides is not used. A configuration in which a planar light source is directly installed and the planar light source also serves as a bottom surface may be employed.

  On the other hand, the planar light source can easily make the emission color of the portion corresponding to the region of the article accommodation space different from the emission color of the portion corresponding to the region of the side surface 2. In this case, the light emission color of the case 4 and the light emission color of the upper end of the side surface 2 can be made different to exhibit more beautiful and unique light illumination.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the case where it had the opening part 3 upwards and installed the planar light source 6 in the bottom face 5 was illustrated, it has an opening part in a side and the planar light source 6 is provided in a back surface. Of course, it may be installed.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the storage box which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the storage box. It is a partially cutaway sectional view explaining the form of use of the storage box. It is a fragmentary sectional view showing other embodiments of the present invention typically. It is a fragmentary sectional view showing typically other embodiment of the present invention typically. It is a partially cutaway sectional view explaining one of the conventional techniques. It is a partially cutaway sectional view explaining another one of conventional technology.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Storage box, 2 ... Side surface, 3 ... Opening part, 4 ... Case, 5 ... Bottom surface, 6 ... Planar light source, 8 ... Sensor, 10 ... Controller, 11 ... Light emitting element.

Claims (6)

In the structure of a storage box that stores a plurality of disk-shaped data recording media together with the case in a standing state,
A structure of a storage box, wherein a surface that contacts any side edge of the cases arranged in an upright state includes a planar light source that emits light as a whole.   The structure of the storage box according to claim 1, wherein the planar light source is composed of a surface light emitter by an array of a plurality of LEDs, or an electroluminescence plate or a light guide plastic flat sheet. .   At least one of the upper surface portion and the bottom surface portion of the case has translucency in the surface direction from one side edge portion to the other side edge portion, and a surface that is in contact with any one of these side edge portions. The storage box structure according to claim 1, wherein the planar light source is provided.   It has an opening for inserting the case, and the height position of the opening is a height position where a part of the case can be visually recognized from outside when the case is accommodated. The structure of the storage box according to claim 3.   In the case, a sensor for detecting light emitted from the planar light source that has passed through the case is provided in the vicinity of the side edge on the side opposite to the side edge on the planar light source side. 5. The storage box structure according to claim 1, further comprising control means for performing a predetermined display based on the output signal.   The structure of the storage box according to claim 5, wherein a light emitting portion is provided corresponding to a position where the case stands up instead of the planar light source.

Images