JP2007203800A - Cup holder for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cup holder for an automobile, which cup holder can improve the visibility of a drink cup storage portion. <P>SOLUTION: The cup holder for the automobile is composed of a drink cup storage portion 2a having an opening portion 2b for receiving drink cups 4 on its upper surface, and a light emitting means 5 for illuminating the drink cup storage portion. The light emitting means of the cup holder is composed of a light emitting member 8 which is arranged so as to surround the opening portion of the drink cup storage portion, and has a light emitting surface 8d inside the drink cup storage portion, and is made of translucent material, a light guiding fiber 7 which is arranged along the light emitting surface so as not to be opposed to the light emitting surface of the light emitting member, an annular cover 6 for covering the portion above the light emitting member and the light guiding fiber, and a light source 9 arranged so as to be opposed to the terminal 7a of the light guiding fiber. Because the circumference of the opening portion 2b of the drink cup storage portion shines in an annular shape by means of the light guiding fiber, the visibility of the drink cup storage portion is improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cup holder for an automobile in which the visibility of a beverage container storage unit is improved.

  Conventional interiors of automobiles are equipped with various interior materials, and some of these interior materials include cup holders for storing beverage containers such as cans and plastic bottles.

  The cup holder is provided with one or a plurality of beverage container storage units for storing beverage containers, and is usually installed on the front surface of the instrument panel, the console, etc., and the beverage stored in the beverage container storage unit The container has a structure that does not easily fall over even when the car is running or when the car starts or stops.

  However, if the vehicle interior is dark, such as at night or in a tunnel, or when it is attempted to put the beverage container into the beverage container storage area when the interior light alone cannot provide sufficient brightness, the beverage container is accidentally overturned. As a result, the content beverage may spill out of the beverage container and stain the surrounding area.

  In order to improve such a problem, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 propose cup holders in which a light emitting means is provided in a beverage container storage portion so that the position of the container storage portion can be easily visually recognized even at night. .

  The cup holder described in Patent Document 1 is formed by translucent resin for the entire beverage container storage part, and a light source is provided in a part of the beverage container storage part. It is designed to illuminate so that the position of the beverage container storage can be easily confirmed even at night.

  In addition, the cup holder described in Patent Document 2 is provided with a light guide member made of a light transmissive material in the vicinity of the beverage container storage portion, and when the light guide member is pulled out, the light receiving portion provided on the light guide member. Since the light from the light source is transmitted to the beverage container storage portion via the light guide member, the position of the beverage container storage portion can be easily confirmed even at night.

On the other hand, the cup holder described in Patent Document 3 can easily confirm the position of the beverage container storage portion even at night by causing the inner wall portion of the beverage container storage portion to emit light with electroluminescence (EL).
JP 2002-120630 A JP 2002-307994 A JP 2005-14655 A

  However, the cup holder described in Patent Document 1 has a structure that illuminates the bottom side of the beverage container storage portion in a concentrated manner, so that it may be difficult for light to reach the top opening of the beverage container storage portion. There is a problem of lack of visibility.

  Further, when a transparent beverage container such as a plastic bottle is stored in the beverage container storage unit, the light that illuminates the beverage container from the bottom is scattered into the vehicle interior due to the shaking of the beverage in the beverage container, so the vehicle interior is dark. In this case, there is a problem that the interior of the vehicle interior becomes unstable and excessively illuminated due to scattered light.

  On the other hand, in the cup holder described in Patent Document 2, the light guide member formed of the light-transmitting resin has a large light attenuation inside, so that the illumination effect is poor and the output of the light source is increased to increase the illumination effect. However, there is a problem that the cost increases because the light source becomes larger and power consumption increases, and measures to prevent light from leaking to the surroundings are required.

  Further, in the cup holder described in Patent Document 3, since the EL to be used is generally expensive and a driving means for driving the EL is required, the illumination means becomes complicated and expensive, and the size of the illumination means is limited. Therefore, there is a problem that the whole cup holder is enlarged.

  The present invention has been made to improve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automobile cup holder with improved visibility of a beverage container storage portion.

  An automobile cup holder of the present invention is an automobile cup holder configured with a beverage container storage portion having an opening for storing a beverage container on an upper surface, and a light emitting means for illuminating the beverage container storage portion. The light emitting means is provided so as to surround the opening of the beverage container storage portion, and is made of a translucent material having a light emitting surface inside the beverage container storage portion, and the light emission of the light emission member A light guide fiber provided at a position not facing the surface and disposed along the light emitting surface, an annular cover for covering the light emitting member and the light guide fiber, and a terminal of the light guide fiber It is characterized by comprising a light source arranged in such a manner.

  With the above configuration, the periphery of the opening of the beverage container storage portion shines in an annular shape, so that the position of the beverage container storage portion can be easily visually recognized even when the vehicle interior is dark, whereby the beverage container storage portion The operation of taking out the beverage container or storing the beverage container in the beverage container storage part can be performed without any trouble, and there is no risk of accidentally spilling the beverage in the beverage container. I don't have to.

  In addition, by using the light guide fiber, the periphery of the opening can be illuminated intensively and uniformly, and it can be easily arranged according to the opening of any shape, so that the assembly of the light emitting means is facilitated. While improving, since a light emission means can be comprised compactly, size reduction of a cup holder can be performed easily.

  The cup holder for automobiles of the present invention is such that a rib for holding the light guide fiber in a predetermined shape is provided on the upper surface of the light emitting member.

  With the above configuration, since the light guide fiber can be accurately positioned with respect to the light emitting surface, light emitted from the light guide fiber can be emitted from the light emitting surface without waste, and a rib is also provided outside the light guide fiber. If a reflective surface is formed in advance on the rib with a white paint or the like, the light from the rib can be prevented from being dissipated.

  In the cup holder for automobiles of the present invention, a reflective surface for reflecting light from the light guide fiber toward the light emitting surface is formed on the surface facing the light emitting surface of the light emitting member.

  With the above structure, light emitted from the light guide fiber can be efficiently and uniformly irradiated from the light emitting surface into the beverage container housing portion, and the light reflected from the reflection surface can be shielded from outside. Light emitted more can be efficiently used for illumination of the beverage container storage section.

  The cup holder for automobiles of the present invention has light guide fiber terminals arranged in one place and a light source arranged so as to face each terminal.

  With this configuration, the entire light guide fiber can be made to emit light almost uniformly by a single light source, which is economical.

  The cup holder for automobiles of the present invention is such that the ends of the light guide fiber are arranged in a substantially Y shape by a smooth curve, and a light source is arranged so as to face each terminal.

  With the above configuration, since light emission at the terminal side can be suppressed, light is not diffused unnecessarily, and a difference in light emission amount from the farthest part away from the light source can be reduced, so the entire light guide fiber is interrupted. And can emit light almost uniformly.

  The automobile cup holder of the present invention is such that the light source fiber is arranged so that the ends of the light guide fiber intersect with each other substantially in an X shape and face each terminal.

  With the above configuration, the ring of light by the light guide fiber does not break at the terminal side, so the decoration effect is improved and the light source reaches the light source with a gentle curve, so that the light transmission loss is minimized and the light guide is reduced. The entire fiber can emit light almost uniformly without interruption.

  According to the cup holder for automobiles of the present invention, since the periphery of the opening of the beverage container storage portion shines in a ring shape, the position of the beverage container storage portion can be easily visually recognized even when the vehicle interior is dark, As a result, operations such as taking out the beverage container from the beverage container storage unit and storing the beverage container in the beverage container storage unit can be performed without any trouble, and there is a risk of accidentally spilling the beverage in the beverage container. Therefore, it is possible to illuminate the periphery of the opening intensively and uniformly by using the light guide fiber, and easily match the opening of any shape. Since it can arrange | position, while the assembly property of a light emission means improves, since a light emission means can be comprised compactly, size reduction of a cup holder can be performed easily.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a perspective view of a console installed in a vehicle interior, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cup holder and illumination means provided in the console, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of light emitting means, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled state. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the light source, and FIG.

  A console 1 shown in FIG. 1 is installed, for example, between a driver's seat and a passenger seat (both not shown) in a passenger compartment, and a cup holder body 2 is provided on the front side of the console 1 and on the rear side. An accessory storage unit 3 is provided, and a lid 3 a that also serves as an armrest is attached to the upper surface opening of the accessory storage unit 3 so as to be freely opened and closed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cup holder main body 2 provided on the front side of the console 1 has a pair of beverage container storage portions 2a that are separated from each other in the front-rear direction, for example.

  The beverage container storage portion 2a has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper surface, the openings 2b are connected to each other by a plate-like connection portion 2c, and the whole is integrally formed of resin.

  A plurality of mounting holes 2d are formed in the connecting portion 2c, and a fixing tool (such as a screw) inserted into the mounting hole 2d in a state where the cup holder body 2 is accommodated in the console 1 from the bottom side opening of the console 1 ( The cup holder body 2 is fixed to the console 1 by screwing it into the inside of the console 1.

  On the front upper surface of the console 1, a storage hole 1a that is slightly larger than the opening 2b is opened at a position that coincides with the opening 2b of the beverage container storage 2a of the cup holder main body 2. Beverage containers 4 such as cans and plastic bottles containing beverages can be stored in the storage portion 2a, and an annular cover 6 covering the light emitting means 5 is provided in each storage hole 1a of the console 1 as shown in FIG. Is fitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the light emitting means 5 includes a light guide fiber 7 made of an optical fiber, a light emitting member 8 having translucency, and a light source 9 and a connection member 10 that connects the light guide fiber 7 and the light source 9. .

  The light guide fiber 7 made of an optical fiber has such a length that it can be connected to the light source 9 in a state that it goes around the opening 2b of the beverage container storage portion 2a and the terminals 7a are parallel to each other, from the end face of the terminal 7a. The entire outer peripheral surface emits light almost uniformly by the irradiated light.

  The light emitting member 8 holds the light guide fiber 7 in substantially the same shape as the opening 2b of the beverage container storage portion 2a, and at the same time enables the light emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the light guide fiber 7 to be efficiently used for illumination. Thus, the whole is formed into a ring shape with a highly transparent acrylic resin or the like.

  The cross-sectional shape of the light emitting member 8 is substantially inverted trapezoidal as shown in FIG. 5, and an inner peripheral rib 8a and an outer peripheral rib 8b are concentrically provided on the upper surface, and the inner and outer peripheral ribs 8a, 8b A light guide fiber 7 having a substantially square cross-sectional shape is press-fitted from above into a substantially U-shaped annular groove 8c formed therebetween.

  The inner peripheral surface of the light emitting member 8 is a tapered light emitting surface 8d having a diameter that gradually increases from the upper surface side to the lower surface side, and light from the light guide fiber 7 is transmitted from the light emitting surface 8d to the beverage container storage portion 2. The opening 2a is irradiated, and the substantially vertical outer peripheral surface of the light emitting member 8 is a reflective surface 8e formed by applying a white paint, for example.

  On the bottom surface of the light emitting member 8, protrusions 8f are projected at a plurality of places, for example, three places at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the cylinder is projected around the opening 2b of the beverage container storage portion 2a. In a state where the outer peripheral surface of the light emitting member 8 is brought into contact with the shape portion 2g, the protrusion 2f is press-fitted from above into an annular fitting groove 2f formed on the inner side of the tubular portion 2g. The light emitting means 5 is attached to the head.

  The connection member 10 of the light emitting means 5 is fitted into a light guide portion 8 g that protrudes from the outer peripheral portion of the light emitting member 8.

  The front end side of the light guide portion 8g is bent obliquely downward, and a concave groove 8h for fitting the end 7a of the light guide fiber 7 is formed in a substantially Y shape on the upper surface of the light guide portion 8g.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the connecting member 10 has a fitting portion 10 a that can be fitted to the tip of a light guide portion 8 g that protrudes from the light emitting member 8, and has a concave groove in the light guide portion 8 g. The terminal 7a of the light guide fiber 7 fitted in 8h is crimped so as not to come out of the concave groove 8h, and the end surface of the terminal 7a is a light emitting part of the light source 9 fitted from the other end side of the connecting member 10 It faces the 9a.

  The light source 9 is formed of, for example, a light emitting diode (LED), and light emitting portions 9 a are projected from the socket 9 b that can be connected to the connection member 10 into the connection member 10. By locking the pawl 10b in the locking groove 9c of the socket 9b, the socket 9b cannot be removed from the connecting member 10.

  A harness 9d extends from the socket 9b of the light source 9, and the light source 9 is connected to an electric system (not shown) of the automobile via the harness 9d. 9 emits light.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the annular cover 6 covering the light emitting means 5 from above is composed of a substantially vertical outer peripheral wall 6a and a cover part 6b protruding from the upper end of the outer peripheral wall 6a into the beverage container storage part 2a. Thus, it is integrally formed of resin.

  The cover portion 6b covering the light emitting means 5 is inclined so that the inner peripheral edge 6c side is sequentially lowered, and protrudes from the bottom surface of the light emitting member 8 by bringing the tip of the inner peripheral edge 6c into contact with the upper surface of the light emitting member 8. The protruding ridge 8f is locked so as not to come out from the fitting groove 2f formed at the periphery of the opening 2b of the beverage container storage portion 2a.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 6a, a plurality of, for example, three fixing pieces 6d are provided protruding in the circumferential direction with an interval therebetween, and these fixing pieces 6d are provided between the upper surface of the console 1 and the connecting portion 2c. The annular cover 6 is fixed to the cup holder main body 2 by sandwiching.

  Next, the operation of the thus configured automobile cup holder will be described.

  First, the cup holder main body 2, the annular cover 6 and the light emitting means 5 manufactured separately are assembled to constitute a cup holder assembly.

  That is, when the light guide fiber 7 is fitted into the annular groove 8c of the light emitting member 8 and the terminal 7a of the light guide fiber 7 is fitted into the concave groove 8h of the light guide portion 8g, the connection member 10 to which the light source 9 is attached in advance. The fitting part 10a is fitted to the light guide part 8g.

  Next, the light guide 5 is covered with the annular cover 6 from above with the protrusion 8f of the light guide member 8 fitted in the fitting groove 2f formed on the periphery of the opening 2b of the cup holder main body 2, whereby the cup Assemble the holder assembly.

  Next, when the assembled cup holder assembly is inserted from the bottom side of the console 1 and the annular cover 6 is fitted into the container storage hole 1a of the console 1 from below, the fixing tool inserted into the attachment hole of the connecting portion 2c is attached. The cup holder assembly is attached to the console 1 by screwing into the console 1. In this state, the fixed piece 6 d of the annular cover 6 is connected to the upper surface of the console 1 and the connecting portion 2 c of the cup holder body 2. Since it is clamped and fixed as shown in FIG.

  The console 1 incorporating the cup holder assembly as described above is used by being fixed on the floor surface in the passenger compartment, but when the illumination is turned on at night or in a tunnel, the light source 9 of the light emitting means 5 is turned on. Is done.

  And the light emitted from the light emission part 9a of the light source 9 is introduce | transduced in the light guide fiber 7 from the terminal 7a end surface of the light guide fiber 7, Thereby, the whole outer peripheral surface of the light guide fiber 7 light-emits with light light.

  The light emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the light guide fiber 7 is introduced into the light emitting member 8 as shown in FIG. 7 and then irradiated from the light emitting surface 8d of the light emitting member 8 into the beverage container storage portion. After being reflected by the reflecting surface 8e formed on the outer peripheral surface of the light emitting member 8, the light is irradiated from the light emitting surface 8d into the beverage container storage portion 2a.

  Accordingly, since the periphery of the opening 2b of the beverage container storage portion 2a shines in an annular shape, the position of the beverage container storage portion 2a can be easily visually recognized even when the vehicle interior is dark. The operation of taking out the beverage container 4 from the portion 2a or storing the beverage container 4 in the beverage container storage portion 2a can be performed without any trouble, and there is a risk of accidentally spilling the beverage in the beverage container 4 Absent.

  Further, the surface facing the light emitting surface 8d of the light emitting member 8 is the reflecting surface 8e, so that the light is emitted from the light guide fiber 7 and efficiently and uniformly irradiated into the beverage container storage portion 2a from the light emitting surface 8d. In addition, since the reflection surface 8e shields the light leaking to the outside, the light emitted from the light guide fiber 7 can be efficiently used for the illumination of the beverage container storage portion 2a.

  On the other hand, the ribs 8a and 8b provided on the upper surface of the light emitting member 8 have a function of positioning the light guide fiber 7 at a predetermined position and simultaneously taking in the light emitted from the light guide fiber 7 into the light emitting member 8. However, if the reflecting surface 8h is formed in advance on the rib 8b located outside the light guide fiber 7 with a white paint or the like, it is possible to prevent the light from dissipating from the rib 8b, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8A, ribs 8a may be provided only inside the light guide fiber 7 to position the light guide fiber 7. As shown in FIG. The height of the inner rib 8a may be lowered within a range that does not become lower, and the light guide fiber 7 portion farthest from the light source 9 decreases in illuminance due to light attenuation. Therefore, the ribs 8a and 8b are provided only in this portion. Double to compensate for the decrease in illuminance Good.

  In the above embodiment, the beverage container storage portion 2a is formed in a circular shape. However, the beverage container storage portion 2a may have a square shape or other shapes as shown in FIG. When the shape of the opening 2b of the storage portion 2a is changed, the shape of the light emitting means 5 is naturally changed according to the shape of the opening 2b.

  Further, the structure of the beverage container storage portion may be a structure that supports the body and the bottom of the beverage container 4, may be drawn out from the instrument panel, and the like, and the light source 9 may have any color. When the light emitting LED can be used and there are a plurality of beverage container storage portions 2a, the decoration effect is increased by changing the color of the light source 9 for each beverage container storage portion 2a.

  On the other hand, FIG.10 and FIG.11 shows the modification of the terminal process of the light guide fiber 7, Next, these modifications are demonstrated easily.

  In FIG. 10A, only one terminal 7a of the light guide fiber 7 is refracted into a substantially square shape so as to follow the other terminal 7a, and the light source 9 is disposed opposite to the end face of each terminal 7a. In FIG. 10B, the terminal 7a of the light guide fiber 7 is crossed in an X shape, and the light source 9 is disposed opposite to the end face of each terminal 7a.

  In FIG. 10C, the terminal 7a of the light guide fiber 7 is crossed in an X shape, and further looped in an arc shape to align the terminals, and the light source 9 is disposed opposite to the end face of each terminal 7a.

  FIG. 11A shows that only one terminal 7a of the light guide fiber 7 is refracted in a substantially square shape in the opposite direction to that in FIG. 10A so as to follow the other terminal 7a. The light source 9 is disposed opposite to the end face of 7a, and FIG. 11 (b) aligns the terminal 7a after diverting one light guide fiber 7 to the two beverage container storage portions 2a in the shape of figure 8. The light source 9 is disposed opposite to the end face of each terminal 7a.

  (C) of FIG. 11 arrange | positions the terminal 7a of a pair of light guide fiber 7 each provided in the two places beverage container accommodating part 2a, and has arrange | positioned the light source 9 facing the end surface of the four terminals 7a.

  In any of the modifications, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be exhibited, and the entire light guide fiber 7 can emit light almost uniformly without interruption.

  In the cup holder of the present invention, since the periphery of the opening of the beverage container storage portion shines in an annular shape, the position of the beverage container storage portion can be easily visually recognized even when the vehicle interior is dark. Since it is possible to take out the beverage container from the container storage unit or store the beverage container in the beverage container storage unit without any trouble, there is no risk of accidentally spilling the beverage in the beverage container, The surroundings are not polluted, and by using the light guide fiber, the periphery of the opening can be illuminated intensively and uniformly, and can be easily arranged according to the opening of any shape. Therefore, the assembly of the light emitting means is improved and the light emitting means can be made compact, so that the cup holder can be easily reduced in size, thereby improving the visibility of the beverage container storage portion. Cup holder against the is optimal for a motor vehicle.

1 is a perspective view of a console provided with an automobile cup holder according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the cup holder for motor vehicles used as an embodiment of the invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the light emission means provided in the cup holder for motor vehicles which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the assembly state of the light emission means provided in the cup holder for motor vehicles which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. It is an enlarged view near the light source of the light emission means provided in the cup holder for automobiles which becomes an embodiment of the invention. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the light emission means provided in the cup holder for motor vehicles which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the light emission member which forms the light emission means provided in the cup holder for motor vehicles used as embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the cup holder for motor vehicles which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the light guide fiber which forms the light emission means provided in the cup holder for motor vehicles used as embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the light guide fiber which forms the light emission means provided in the cup holder for motor vehicles used as embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Cup holder main body 2a Beverage container storage part 2c Opening part 4 Beverage container 6 Annular cover 7 Light guide fiber 7a Terminal 8 Light emitting member 8a Rib 8b Rib 8d Light emitting surface 8e Reflecting surface 9 Light source

Claims (6)

A cup holder for an automobile composed of a beverage container storage part having an opening for storing a beverage container on an upper surface, and a light emitting means for illuminating the beverage container storage part, wherein the light emitting means
A light emitting member made of a translucent material that is provided so as to surround the opening of the beverage container storage unit and has a light emission surface inside the beverage container storage unit, and a position that is not opposite to the light emission surface of the light emission member A light guide fiber provided along the light emitting surface, an annular cover that covers the light emitting member and the light guide fiber, and a light source disposed to face the end of the light guide fiber. A cup holder for an automobile, characterized in that The automobile cup holder according to claim 1, wherein a rib for holding the light guide fiber in a predetermined shape is provided on the upper surface of the light emitting member. The automobile cup holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a reflective surface that reflects light from the light guide fiber toward the light emitting surface is formed on a surface of the light emitting member that faces the light emitting surface. The automobile cup holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein terminals of the light guide fiber are arranged in one place and the light source is disposed so as to face the terminals. The automobile cup holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ends of the light guide fiber are arranged in a substantially Y shape by a smooth curve, and the light source is arranged so as to face each end. The cup holder for automobiles according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light source is disposed so that the ends of the light guide fiber are substantially X-shaped and opposed to the terminals.

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