JP2008125967A - Electric appliance for home use - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the re-engagement at the time of a lid body opening operation in an electric appliance for home use such as a rice cooker by a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: A locking mechanism 18 includes an operating member 20 and a locking member 21. The operating member 20 is rotatable around the shaft section 20a, and is resiliently urged to a normal position by a torsion spring 22. A gap t1 is present between the lower operating force transmitting section 20g and the upper operating force transmitting section 20h of the operating member 20. The locking member 21 is rotatable around the shaft section 21a, and includes a hook section 21c which engages with a locking claw 6d on the main body 3 side, on the lower end side, and includes a rotation force inputting section 21 on the upper end side. The rotation force inputting section 21 is inserted into the gap t1 on the operating member 20 side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to household electric appliances such as rice cookers, electric pots, and dishwashers.

  The rice cooker includes a releasable lock mechanism for holding the lid in a state where the opening of the main body is closed. Patent Documents 1 to 3 propose a structure for preventing the so-called re-hanging in the lock mechanism.

  Hereinafter, re-hanging will be described. The lid of the rice cooker has a rear end rotatably attached to the main body and is elastically biased in the opening direction by a hinge spring. The lock mechanism includes an operation member disposed at the front end of the lid. The operating member is moved from the normal position to the pushed position by the operator's push-down operation. When the push-down operation is released, the operating member is returned from the push position to the normal position by the urging force of the return spring. The lock mechanism includes a movable lock member that communicates with the operation member and locks the lid and the main body so as to be releasable. The lock member is engaged with the main body side when the operation member is in the normal position, and the engagement with the main body side is released when the operation member is in the push-in position.

  When the operator depresses the operating member with a finger and moves it from the normal position to the pushed-in position to open the lid, the engagement between the lock member and the main body is released, and the lid is opened by the biasing force of the hinge spring. Start rotating in the direction. At this time, if the operator releases the push-down operation by releasing the finger immediately from the operation member, the operation member is moved from the push-in position to the normal position by the biasing force of the return spring before the cover body is opened by the biasing force of the hinge spring. In some cases, the lock member returns and engages with the main body again. In this case, the lid body does not open even though the operator performs the operation of pushing down the operation member. This phenomenon is called re-hanging. If the urging force of the hinge spring is increased, the urging force of the return spring surely opens the operating member before the operating member returns from the pushing position to the normal position, so that re-engagement can be avoided. However, if the biasing force of the hinge spring is excessively increased, the main body moves with the momentum when the lid opens. In particular, when the biasing force of the hinge spring is extremely strong, the main body may “bounce” when the lid is opened. Further, if the urging force of the hinge spring is increased, the hinge portion needs to be reinforced and the cost is greatly increased. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent re-hanging by the structure on the lock mechanism side.

  Patent Document 1 proposes that an elastic member such as rubber is disposed in the vicinity of the lock mechanism, and that the elastic member is compressed between the lid and the main body when the lid is closed. When the lid is opened, the lid is quickly opened by the repulsive force of the elastic member, thereby preventing re-hanging.

  In Patent Documents 2 and 3, when the engagement between the lock member and the main body is released by the operation of pushing down the operation member, the movable member biased by the spring moves to a position where it interferes with the lock member. It has been proposed to prevent hooking.

  However, like the ones described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, adding a member only for preventing re-hanging, that is, an elastic member such as rubber, or a combination of a spring and a movable part increases the number of parts and the structure. It becomes complicated and increases the manufacturing cost.

  In addition, the elastic member such as rubber described in Patent Document 1 deteriorates with time, and when the repulsion force decreases due to deterioration with time, the re-prevention function decreases. Further, the repulsive force of the elastic member always acts on the closed lid, and the lid may be deformed with time due to the repulsive force. When the lid body is deformed over time, the gap between the lid body and the main body is enlarged, and the compression margin of the elastic member located in the gap is eliminated.

  Furthermore, the combination of the spring and the movable part described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 has a relatively complicated structure. If the highly viscous starchy substance contained in the moisture due to dew condensation in the rice cooker adheres to and solidifies on this relatively complicated structure, it causes a malfunction of the lock mechanism.

  Other household electric appliances such as an electric pot having a lid locking mechanism similar to a rice cooker and a dishwasher also have a problem of re-hanging when the lid is opened.

JP 2000-14538 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-68314 JP 2-17015 A

  This invention makes it a subject to prevent re-hanging at the time of lid | cover opening operation with a simple structure with few parts in household electric appliances, such as a rice cooker, an electric pot, and a dishwasher.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, one end is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body, and the lid is elastically biased in the opening direction by the first spring, and the other end of the lid is disposed. An operation member that moves from a normal position to a push-in position by a push-down operation, and that returns to the normal position from the push-down position by an urging force of a second spring when the push-down operation is released, and the lid body in conjunction with the operation member And a lock part that releasably locks the device main body, wherein the operation member is located above the lower operation force transmission part and the lower operation force transmission part with an interval therebetween An upper operating force transmitting portion disposed on the operating portion, and the lock portion is provided on the device main body when the operated portion is inserted into the interval of the operating member, and the operated portion is in an upper position. Body side engaging part On the other hand, when the operated portion is in a lower position lower than the upper position, a lid side engaging portion is released that is disengaged from the main body side engaging portion. When in the normal position, the operated portion of the lock portion is pressed by the lower operation force transmission portion and biased to the upper position, while facing the upper operation force transmission portion with a gap therebetween. When the operating member is in the pushed-in position, the operated portion of the lock portion is pressed by the upper operating force transmitting portion and biased to the lower position, while the lower operating force transmitting portion And a household electrical appliance characterized by facing each other with a gap.

  As long as the push-down operation is not performed, the operation member is held at the normal position by the biasing force of the second spring, and the operated portion is biased to the upper position by the lower operation force transmission portion, thereby engaging the lid side of the lock portion. The portion engages with the main body side engaging portion to maintain the state. Therefore, as long as the operating member is not operated, the lid is locked in the closed state.

  When the operation member moves from the normal position to the push-in position against the urging force of the second spring by the push-down operation, the operated portion is urged to the lower position by the upper operation force transmitting portion, so that the lid side of the lock portion The engagement between the engagement portion and the main body side engagement portion is released. In other words, when the operating member is moved from the normal position to the pushed-in position by the push-down operation, the lid is unlocked.

  When the operator stops the push-down operation and releases the operation member, the lid starts to rotate in the opening direction by the biasing force of the first spring. Simultaneously with the start of rotation of the lid, the operating member starts moving from the pushed-in position toward the normal position by the biasing force of the second spring. However, since an interval is provided between the lower operating force transmission unit and the upper operation force transmission unit, the size of the interval or the second spring is not changed after the operation member starts moving from the pushing position toward the normal position. For the first time after the time depending on the moving speed of the operating member due to the elapse of time, the operated part is urged by the lower operating force transmission part and returns to the upper position, and accordingly the lid side engaging part is engaged with the main body side. Return to the position where it engages the part. In other words, a point in time when the lock member is returned to the upper position by this release operation is delayed with respect to a point in time when the operation member is released by stopping the push-down operation by the operator. Due to this time delay, before the operating member is released, the operated portion of the lock portion returns to the upper position (the lid side engaging portion returns to the position where the lid side engaging portion engages with the main body side engaging portion). The lid always rotates to some extent from the closed position to the open position. Therefore, even if the lock portion returns to the upper position due to the release of the operation member, the lid has already been rotated to some extent at that time and can be reliably prevented from being caught again.

  The operating member may be attached to the lid so as to be rotatable, or may be attached to the lid so as to be linearly reciprocable.

  Specifically, the lock portion includes a lock member attached to the lid so as to be rotatable around a first axis in the lateral direction, and the lid-side engagement portion is provided on a lower end side of the lock member. And the rotational force input part which rotates the said locking member around the said 1st axis | shaft is provided in the upper end side of the said locking member.

  Preferably, the shape of the lock member is set such that a rotational moment around the first axis is generated by the weight of the lid body side engaging portion in a direction away from the main body side engaging portion. In this case, in a state in which no load is applied to the rotational force input portion of the lock member, the engagement between the lid side engagement portion and the main body side engagement portion is caused by the rotation of the lock member around the first axis caused by the rotational moment due to its own weight. The match is released. As a result, the occurrence of re-hanging can be prevented more reliably.

  More specifically, the lock part may be composed only of a lock member. In this case, the lock portion is formed of the lock member, and the rotational force input portion of the lock member is the operated portion of the lock portion.

  Alternatively, the lock portion may be constituted by two members, a lock member and an intermediate member. In this case, the lock portion further includes an intermediate member attached to the lid body so as to be rotatable around a second axis in the lateral direction, the operated portion is provided on one end side of the intermediate member, and A drive unit that rotates the rotational force input unit of the lock member around the first axis is provided on the other end side of the intermediate member.

  The present invention has a configuration in which the operating force transmission portion and the operated portion are interchanged in the configuration of the first aspect, that is, the upper operated portion and the lower operated portion are provided at an interval in the lock portion, and the operating member is provided. This can also be realized by a configuration in which the operating force transmission unit is inserted into this interval. That is, in the second aspect of the present invention, one end is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body, and the lid is elastically biased in the opening direction by the first spring, and is disposed at the other end of the lid. An operation member that moves from a normal position to a push position by a push-down operation, and that returns to the normal position from the push-down position by an urging force of a second spring when the push-down operation is released; In a household electrical appliance including a lock unit that releasably locks the lid and the device main body, the lock unit is disposed below the upper operated unit and with an interval from the upper operated unit. When the upper and lower operated parts are in the upper position, the upper and lower operated parts are engaged with the main body side engaging part provided on the apparatus main body side. Part is in the upper position A lid-side engagement portion that is disengaged from the main-body-side engagement portion when in a lower position on the lower side, and the operation member includes an operation force transmission portion inserted into the interval. When the operating member is in the normal position, the upper operated portion is pressed by the operating force transmitting portion and biased to the upper position, while the lower operated portion and the operating force transmitting portion are Are opposed to each other with an interval, and when the operating member is in the pushed-in position, the lower operated portion is pressed by the operating force transmitting portion and biased to the lower position, while the upper operated portion is A home electric product is provided, wherein the operation force transmitting unit and the unit are opposed to each other with a space therebetween.

  In the household electrical appliance of the present invention, from the release of the operation member push-down operation until the operated portion of the lock portion reaches the upper position and moves to a position where the lid side engaging portion engages with the main body side engaging portion. Since there is a time delay between them, it is possible to reliably prevent re-hanging.

  Further, in the household electric product of the present invention, an additional member only for preventing re-hanging, that is, an elastic member such as rubber, or a combination of a spring and a movable part is unnecessary. Therefore, it is a simple structure with a small number of parts, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, since an elastic member such as rubber is not used for preventing re-hanging, there is no decrease in the re-hanging preventing function due to deterioration with time. In addition, the repulsive force from the elastic member does not act on the closed lid body, and the lid body is not deformed over time due to it.

  Furthermore, since there is no need to provide a comparatively complicated mechanism such as a combination of a spring and a movable part as described above, the operation caused by adhesion and solidification of highly viscous starchy substances contained in moisture due to condensation. No defect occurs.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 show a rice cooker 1 which is a household electric product according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The rice cooker 1 includes a rice cooker main body (hereinafter abbreviated as “main body”) 3 that accommodates the rice cooking pot 2 so as to be removable, and a lid 4 for closing the opening at the upper end of the main body 3. In the following description, FIGS. 1 to 5 are referred to unless otherwise specified.

  The main body 3 includes a lower exterior body 5 and an upper exterior body 6 disposed on the upper end of the lower exterior body 5. The lower exterior body 5 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the upper exterior body 6 has a cylindrical shape having an opening 6b surrounded by a shoulder 6a at the upper end. Both the upper exterior body 6 and the lower exterior body 5 are made of resin. In the main body 3, a bottomed cylindrical inner cylinder 7 extending downward from the opening 6b of the upper exterior body 6 is disposed. The rice cooking pot 2 is accommodated in the inner trunk 7. A heating plate with a built-in heater and a temperature sensor (both not shown) are disposed at the bottom of the inner cylinder 7. An operation panel 8 including a liquid crystal display device and various operation switches is disposed on the front surface of the upper exterior body 6. Further, a handle 9 for conveyance is rotatably attached to both sides of the upper exterior body 6.

  The lid 4 includes a lower lid member 11 and an upper lid member 12 attached to the lower lid member 11 on the upper surface side. Both the lower lid member 11 and the upper lid member 12 are made of resin. A disk-shaped inner lid 13 is attached to the lower surface side of the lower lid member 11. The inside of the rice cooking pot 2 is closed by the inner lid 13. The upper lid member 12 has a shell shape, and a space is formed between the upper lid member 12, the lower surface side, and the upper surface side of the lower lid member 11. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, a decorative plate 14 extending from the front end toward the rear end is attached to the central portion in the width direction of the upper lid member 12.

  The lid body 4 is rotatably attached to the shoulder portion 6a of the main body 3 at the hinge connection portion 16 on the rear end side. Further, the lid body 4 is elastically biased by a hinge spring (first spring) 17 in an opening direction indicated by an arrow A1 in FIG. The structure of the hinge connecting portion 16 will be described in detail later.

  Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, a releasable lock mechanism 18 is provided on the front end side of the lid body 4 to maintain the lid body 4 in a closed state with respect to the main body 3. . The lock mechanism 18 includes an operation member 20 and a lock member (lock portion) 21.

  Most of the operation member 20 is accommodated in a space between the lower lid member 11 and the upper lid member 12. Referring to FIGS. 6A to 6C, FIGS. 8A to 8D, and FIGS. 8A to 8C together, the operation member 20 is operated by the operator (user of the rice cooker) with a finger. A push button portion 20a for pressing, a connecting portion 20b extending from the rear end of the push button portion 20a, and a pair of shaft portions 20c extending in the horizontal direction from both side portions at the tip of the connecting portion 20b. As illustrated only in FIG. 4, the pair of shaft portions 20 c are rotatably supported by a pair of bearing portions 11 a provided on the upper surface of the lower lid member 11. The push button portion 20a is accommodated in a through hole 12a provided in the upper lid member 12, and the push button portion 20a is exposed near the front end of the lid body 4 as clearly shown in FIG. .

  As illustrated only in FIGS. 1 and 5, a coiled torsion spring (second spring) 22 that functions as a return spring is attached to the shaft portion 20 c of the operation member 20. The torsion spring 22 causes the operation member 20 to rotate upward around the shaft portion 20c as indicated by an arrow B1, that is, the direction in which the push button portion 20a tends to come out of the lid body 4 through the through hole 12a. Is elastically biased. Tab-like portions 20d are provided on both sides of the push button portion 20a of the operation member 20, respectively. The tab-shaped portion 20d abuts against the lower surface side of the upper lid member 12, thereby preventing the push button portion 20a from coming off. Both ends of the torsion spring 22 are supported by spring receiving portions 11 b provided on the lower lid member 11, and the center portion is supported by the lower surface of the connecting portion 20 b of the operation member 20.

  The operation member 20 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the push button portion 20a, and includes a connecting plate portion 20e having a horizontally long rectangular plate shape as a whole. A rectangular through hole 20f is formed from the lower end of the connecting plate portion 20e. The lower part of the connecting plate 20e below the through hole 20f, more specifically, the lower edge of the through hole 20f is the lower operating force transmission part 20g. On the other hand, a portion on the upper side of the through hole 20f of the connecting plate portion 20e, more specifically, a hole edge on the upper side of the through hole 20f is the upper operating force transmission portion 20h. In other words, the upper operating force transmission portion 20h is disposed above the lower operating force transmission portion 20g with an interval t1 determined by the dimension of the through hole 20f. This interval t1 is set sufficiently larger than the thickness of a rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 described later.

  When the push button portion 20a is not pressed, the rotation position of the operation member 20 around the shaft portion 20c is the position where the push button portion 20a is at the uppermost position (normal position) as shown in FIGS. Furthermore, the biasing force (arrow B1) of the torsion spring 22 is maintained. Further, by pushing down the push button portion 20a against the urging force of the torsion spring 22, the operation member 20 is moved around the shaft portion 20c in the direction of arrow B2 to the lower position (pressed position) shown in FIG. 9B. Can be rotated. In other words, the operation member 20 can rotate around the shaft portion 20c between the normal position and the pushing position.

  The upper portion of the lock member 21 is accommodated in a space between the lower lid member 11 and the upper lid member 12, and is positioned closer to the front end side of the lid body 4 than the operation member 20. 7A to 7C, FIGS. 8A to 8D, and FIGS. 9A to 9C, a pair of shaft portions 21a extending in the horizontal direction are provided. As illustrated only in FIG. 4, the pair of shaft portions 21 a is rotatably supported by a pair of bearing portions 11 c provided on the upper surface of the lower lid member 11. Accordingly, the lock member 21 is rotatable around the shaft portion 21a as indicated by arrows C1 and C2.

  The lock member 21 includes a plate-like lower connecting plate portion 21b extending downward from the shaft portion 21a. The lower connecting plate portion 21 b protrudes from the inside of the lid body 4 through a through hole 11 d formed near the front end of the lower lid member 11. A hook portion (lid body side engaging portion) 21c is provided in the vicinity of the lower end of the lower connecting plate portion 21b located outside the lid body 4. The hook portion 21c includes a pair of connecting portions 21d extending from both lower ends of the lower connecting plate portion 21b, and a hook body 21e extending in the horizontal direction connected to the tips of the connecting portions 21d. The hook body 21e has a horizontal engagement surface 21f on the lower end side and an inclined surface 21g on the rear end side. As illustrated only in FIGS. 1 and 5, a lock claw (main body side engaging portion) 6 d is provided in front of the shoulder portion 6 a of the main body 3 corresponding to the hook portion 21 c. The lock claw 6d includes a plate-like protrusion 6e extending vertically upward from the shoulder 6a, and a claw body 6f protruding forward provided at the tip of the protrusion 6e. The claw body 6f has a horizontal engaging surface 6g on the lower end side and an inclined surface 6h on the upper end.

  Furthermore, the lock member 21 includes a flat upper connecting plate portion 21h extending obliquely rearward and upward from the shaft portion 21a. A flat-plate-like rotational force input portion (operated portion) 21i extends in the horizontal direction from the tip of the upper connecting plate portion 21h. 8A to 8D, the upper connecting plate portion 21h extends rearward under the push button portion 20a of the operation member 20, and the rotational force input portion 21i is formed in the through hole 20f. It is inserted. In other words, the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 is inserted into the interval t1 between the lower operation force transmission portion 20g and the upper operation force transmission portion 20h of the operation member 20.

  The lock member 21 has a shaft portion between the rotational position where the rotational force input portion 21i shown in FIG. 9A is at the upper position and the rotational force input portion 21i shown in FIG. It can rotate around 21a. When the rotational force input portion 21i is in the upper position shown in FIG. 9A, the hook portion 21c of the lock member 21 engages with the lock claw 6d on the main body 3 side. On the other hand, when the rotational force input portion 21i is in the lower position, the hook portion 21c of the lock member 21 is located on the front end side of the lid body 4 relative to the lock claw 6d, and the engagement between the two is released.

  Next, the operation of the lock mechanism 18 will be described. Referring to FIGS. 1, 5, and 9 </ b> A, the operation member 20 is held in the normal position by the biasing force of the torsion spring 22 when the lid 4 is closed. By the lower operation force transmitting portion 20g of the operation member 20 in the normal position, the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 is pressed upward and biased to the upper position. Therefore, the hook portion 21 c of the lock member 21 is engaged with the lock claw 6 d of the main body 3. In detail, the engagement surfaces 21f and 6g of the lock member 21 and the lock claw 6d are engaged with each other. As described above, the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 is pressed by the lower operation force transmission portion 20g of the operation member 20, whereas it opposes the upper operation force transmission portion 20h with an interval t1. Yes. Unless the operation member 20 is operated, the operation member 20 is held in the normal position by the biasing force of the torsion spring 22, the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 is held in the upper position, and the hook portion 21c is engaged with the lock claw 6d. Since the combined state is maintained, the lid 4 is locked in the closed state.

  When the operator depresses the push button portion 20a of the operation member 20, the operation member 20 resists the biasing force of the torsion spring 22 from the normal position shown in FIG. 9A to the push position shown in FIG. 9B. And rotate around the shaft portion 20c. When the operation member 20 is in the pushed position, the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 is pressed downward by the upper operation force transmission portion 20h and biased to the lower position. Therefore, the engagement between the hook portion 21c and the lock claw 6d is released. Thus, when the operator pushes down the push button portion 20a and moves the operation member 20 from the normal position to the push-in position against the urging force of the torsion spring 22, the lid 4 is unlocked.

  When the operator stops the push-down operation of the push button portion 20 a and releases the operation member 20, the lid body 4 starts to rotate in the opening direction (arrow A <b> 1) by the biasing force of the hinge spring 17. Simultaneously with the start of the rotation of the lid body 4, the operation member 20 starts moving from the pushing position toward the normal position by the biasing force of the torsion spring. However, as described above, the interval t1 is provided between the lower operation force transmission portion 20g and the upper operation force transmission portion 20h of the operation member 20. Therefore, even if the operation member 20 starts to move from the push-in position toward the normal position and reaches the intermediate position shown in FIG. 9C, the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 remains at the lower operation force transmission portion 20g. Will not be immediately energized. Specifically, after the operation member 20 starts moving from the pushed-in position toward the normal position, until the time depending on the dimension of the interval t1 or the moving speed of the operation member 20 by the torsion spring 22 has elapsed, Neither the upper operating force transmission unit 20h nor the lower operating force transmission unit 20g comes into contact with the rotational force input unit 21i. Only after this time has elapsed, the rotational force input portion 21i is urged by the lower operating force transmission portion 20g and returns to the upper position. In other words, when the operation member 20 is released when the operator stops the push-down operation, the release force causes the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 to return to the upper position, and the hook portion 21c is locked. The time to return to the position where it engages with 6d is delayed. Due to this time delay, the operating member 20 is released, so that the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 returns to the upper position, and accordingly the hook portion 21c returns to the position where it engages with the lock claw 6d. In addition, the lid 4 always rotates from the closed position to the open position to some extent. In other words, when the operation member 20 is released by the end of the push-down operation, the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 returns to the upper position, and accordingly the hook portion 21c returns to the position where it engages with the lock claw 6d. The lid 4 has already been rotated to some extent and opened. As a result, the hook portion 21c that is not intended by the operator does not engage with the lock claw 6d. As described above, since there is a time delay from the release of the push-down operation of the operation member 20 until the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 reaches the upper position, re-engagement can be reliably prevented.

  When the cover 4 in the open state is rotated in the direction of the arrow A2 in order to close it, the inclined surface 21g of the hook body 21e of the hook portion 21c slides on the inclined surface 6h of the claw body 6f of the lock claw 6d. 21c moves from above to below. Thereby, the hook main body 21e gets over the lock claw 6d, and the hook portion 21c engages with the lock claw 6d.

  The lock member 21 has a shape in which a rotational moment around the shaft portion 20c due to its own weight is generated in a direction in which the hook portion 21c indicated by the arrow C1 moves away from the lock claw 6d. Therefore, the load is not applied to the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21, that is, the lower operating force transmission portion 20g and the upper operating force transmission portion 20h of the operating member 20 as shown in FIG. 9C. When the rotational force input portion 21i is not contacted, the lock member 21 is rotated around the shaft portion 21a by a rotational moment due to its own weight, so that the hook portion 21c is rotated in a direction away from the lock claw 6d. As described above, in a state where no load is applied to the rotational force input portion 21i until the operation member 20 returns from the pushed-in position to the normal position, the hook portion 21c moves in a direction away from the lock claw 6d by the rotational moment due to its own weight. Therefore, the occurrence of re-hanging can be surely prevented. However, as long as the condition that the lower operating force transmission portion 20g presses the rotational force input portion 21i upward before the hook portion 21c engages with the lock claw 6d by the rotation of the lock member 21 around the shaft portion 21a is satisfied. The locking member 21 may have a shape that generates a rotational moment in the direction opposite to the arrow C1. In addition, as long as this condition is satisfied, the lock member 21 is elastically attached in the direction in which the rotational force input portion 21i moves from the lower position to the upper position (arrow C2), that is, the direction in which the hook portion 21c is engaged with the lock claw 6d. A return spring may be provided. Furthermore, the distance t1 between the lower operation force transmission portion 20g and the upper operation force transmission portion 20h of the operation member 20 and the thickness of the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 can be determined according to similar conditions.

  The rice cooker of 1st Embodiment which has the above locking mechanism 18 has the following characteristics. First, from the release of the push-down operation on the push button portion 20a of the operation member 20, the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 reaches the upper position, and accordingly, the hook portion 21c returns to the position where it engages with the lock claw 6d. Since there is a time delay between the two, re-hanging can be surely prevented.

  Further, an additional member only for preventing re-engagement with the lock mechanism 18, that is, an elastic member such as rubber, or a combination of a spring and a movable part is not necessary. Therefore, the lock mechanism 18 has a simple structure with a small number of parts, and can reduce the manufacturing cost of the rice cooker.

  Further, since an elastic member such as rubber is not used for preventing re-hanging, there is no decrease in the re-hanging preventing function due to deterioration with time. In addition, the repulsive force from the elastic member does not act on the lid 4 in the closed state, and the lid 4 is not deformed over time due to it.

  Furthermore, since it is not necessary to provide the lock mechanism 18 with a comparatively complicated mechanism such as a combination of a spring and a movable part, the lock mechanism is caused by adhesion and solidification of highly viscous starch contained in moisture due to condensation. 18 malfunctions do not occur.

  Next, the structure of the hinge connection part 16 will be described. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the hinge connection portion 16 includes a pair of bearing portions 6 j provided on the shoulder portion 6 a of the main body 3 and a pair of bearings provided on the rear end of the lower lid member 11 of the lid body 4. A hinge pin 23 inserted through the portion 11e is provided. The bearing portion 11e on the lid 4 side is disposed in contact with the outer surface of the bearing portion 6j on the main body 3 side. A hinge spring 17, which is a coiled torsion spring, is attached to the hinge pin 23. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper end side arm portion 17 a extending upward from the hinge spring 17 is held by a spring receiving portion 11 f provided on the lower lid member 11. On the other hand, the lower end side arm portion 17b extending downward from the hinge spring 17 is held on the main body 3 side by being inserted into a spring receiving hole (not shown) provided in the shoulder portion 6a. As described above, the lid 4 is biased in the opening direction (arrow A1) by the hinge spring 17.

  10A and 10B together, the hinge connecting portion 16 is covered with a resin hinge cover 24 detachably attached to the upper exterior body 6 of the main body 3 with screws (not shown). The hinge cover 24 is provided with a slit 24a into which the upper arm portion 17a of the hinge spring 17 enters when the lid 4 is opened. The slit 24a extends in the vertical direction, with the upper end being an open end 24b and the lower end being a closed end 24c. A pair of resin ribs 24d extending in the vertical direction are provided on both sides of the slit 24a. As shown in FIG. 10B, the base end of the rib 24d is connected to the hinge cover 24 and extends toward the center α in the width direction of the slit 24a. The interval t2 between the tips of the ribs 24d is set to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the upper end side arm portion 17a of the hinge spring 17. The rib 24d is integrally formed with the hinge cover 24, and the material thereof is resin. The rib 24d may be a separate body from the hinge cover 24 as long as sufficient attachment strength can be ensured.

  When the lid body 4 rotates in the opening direction as indicated by an arrow A1 in FIG. 1, the upper end side arm portion 17a of the hinge spring 17 enters the slit 24a from the opening end 24b and moves toward the closing end 24c. . At this time, since the interval t2 between the slits 24a is smaller than the outer diameter of the hinge spring 17 as described above, the upper end side arm portion 17a elastically deforms the pair of ribs 24d as shown by the arrow D in FIG. And move while expanding the interval t2 in the horizontal direction. The elastic deformation of the rib 24d functions as a kind of brake that absorbs the torque generated by the hinge spring 17. As a result, the impact when the lid 4 is opened is effectively mitigated.

  As an alternative, as shown in FIG. 11, the width W of the slit 24 a itself may be set slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the hinge spring 17 without providing the rib 24 d. In this case, the upper end side arm portion 17a that moves in the slit 24a from the open end 24b toward the closed end 24c when the lid 4 is opened constitutes the left and right edge portions of the slit 24a of the hinge cover 24 as indicated by an arrow E. The width W of the slit 24a is expanded by elastically deforming the part that is being performed. The torque of the hinge spring 17 is absorbed by the partial elastic deformation of the hinge cover 24, and the impact when the lid 4 is opened is effectively mitigated. In addition, by configuring the brake with the hinge spring 17 and the hinge cover 24, it is possible to prevent the noise that is a problem of the brake configured with the members made of resin without newly adding a brake member.

(Second Embodiment)
FIGS. 12A to 12C show a rice cooker lock mechanism 18 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The operation member 20 can reciprocate in the vertical direction between the normal position shown in FIG. 12A and the pushing position shown in FIG. 12B (see arrows F1 and F2). In the present embodiment, the operation member 20 does not include the shaft portion 20c. A compression coil spring 25 that functions as a return spring is mounted between a spring receiving portion 20 i provided on the lower surface side of the push button portion 20 a and a spring receiving portion 11 g provided on the lower lid member 11. By this compression coil spring 25, the operation member 20 is elastically biased upward, that is, toward the normal position (arrow F2). An interval t1 is provided between the lower operation force transmission unit 20g and the upper operation force operation unit 20h of the operation member 20, and a rotational force input unit (operation target unit) of the lock member (lock unit) 21 is provided at the interval t1. ) 21i is inserted.

  In the normal position shown in FIG. 12 (A), the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 is pressed upward by the lower operating force transmission portion 20g of the operating member 20 and is urged upward, and the hook portion 21c is The lock claw 6d on the main body 3 side is engaged. In the pushing position shown in FIG. 12 (B), the rotational force input portion 21i by the upper operating force transmission portion 20h is pressed downward and biased downward, and the hook portion 21c and the lock claw 6d are engaged. Has been released. When the pushing operation of the push button portion 20a is stopped, the operation member 20 starts to move toward the normal position by the urging force of the compression coil spring 25 (arrow F1). However, since there is an interval t1 between the lower operation member 20 and the upper operation member 20, the operation member 20 starts to move from the push-in position toward the normal position, and the intermediate position shown in FIG. Even in this case, the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 is not immediately biased by the lower operating force transmission portion 20g. Therefore, when the operation member 20 is released by stopping the push-down operation, the release force causes the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 to return to the upper position, and accordingly the hook portion 21c is moved to the lock claw 6d. The time to return to the position where it engages is delayed. Due to this time delay, the lid body 4 always rotates from the closed position to the open position to some extent before the hook member 21c returns to the position where it engages with the lock claw 6d due to the release of the operating member 20, The hook can be surely prevented.

  Since other configurations and operations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

(Third embodiment)
FIGS. 13A and 13B show a rice cooker lock mechanism 18 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the lock member (lock portion) 26 has an upper operated portion 26c at the tip of an upper connecting plate portion 26b extending rearward from the shaft portion 26a and a distance t3 from the upper operated portion 26c. And a lower operated portion 26d disposed below. This interval t3 is set to be sufficiently larger than the thickness of an operation force transmitting portion 20j of the operation member 20 described later. A lock claw (lid body side engaging portion) 26f is provided at the lower end of the lower connecting plate portion 26e extending downward from the shaft portion 26a. Corresponding to the lock claw 26f, the shoulder portion 6a of the main body 3 is provided with a hook portion (main body side engaging portion) 6k. As shown in FIG. 13A, when the upper operated portion 26c and the lower operated portion 26d of the lock member 21 are in the upper position, the lock claw 26f engages with the hook portion 6k. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the upper operated portion 26c and the lower operated portion 26d are in the lower position, the engagement between the lock claw 26f and the hook portion 6k is released.

  The operating member 20 includes a plate-like operating force transmission portion 20j that protrudes forward from the lower end of the connecting plate portion 20e that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the push button portion 20a. The operating force transmission unit 20j is inserted into the interval t3 between the upper operated unit 26c and the lower operated unit 26d. As in the first embodiment, the operation member 20 is elastically biased toward the normal position by the torsion spring 22.

  In the normal position shown in FIG. 13 (A), the upper operated portion 26c of the lock member 21 is pressed upward by the operating force transmitting portion 20j of the operating member 20 and biased upward, and the lock claw 26f The side hook portion 6k is engaged. In the pushing position shown in FIG. 13 (B), the lower operated portion 26d is pressed downward by the operating force transmitting portion 20j and biased downward, and the lock claw 26f and the hook portion 6k are engaged. Has been released.

  When the pushing operation of the push button portion 20a is stopped, the operation member 20 starts to move toward the normal position by the biasing force of the torsion spring 22. However, since there is an interval t3 between the upper operated portion 26c and the lower operated portion 26d, the lock member is released by this releasing operation when the operating member 20 is released by stopping the pressing operation. The time when the upper operated portion 26c and the lower operated portion 26d of 21 return to the upper position and the lock claw 26f returns to the position where it engages with the hook portion 6k is delayed accordingly. This time delay can reliably prevent re-hanging.

  Since other configurations and operations of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

(Fourth embodiment)
14 (A) and 14 (B) show a rice cooker lock mechanism 18 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  The lock mechanism 18 of the present embodiment includes an intermediate member 27 in addition to the operation member 20 and the lock member 21 having the same structure as that of the first embodiment. The lock member 21 and the intermediate member 27 constitute a lock portion in the present invention.

  The intermediate member 27 is disposed between the operation member 20 and the lock member 21. The intermediate member 27 includes a shaft portion 27 a that is rotatably supported by the lid body 4. The intermediate member 27 includes an upper connecting plate portion 27b extending rearward from the shaft portion 27a. At the front end portion of the upper connecting plate portion 27b, an operated portion 27c is provided that is inserted into a space t1 between the lower operating force transmission portion 20g and the upper operating force transmission portion 20h of the operating member 20. Further, the intermediate member 27 includes a lower connecting plate portion 27d extending downward from the shaft portion 27a. At the lower end of the lower connecting plate portion 27b, there are provided an upper drive portion 27e and a lower drive portion 27f disposed below the upper drive portion 27e with a distance t4. The rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 is inserted into the interval t4, and the lock member 21 rotates around the shaft portion 21a by the upper drive portion 27e and the lower drive portion 27f. The interval t4 is set sufficiently larger than the thickness of the rotational force input portion 21i.

  In the normal position shown in FIG. 14A, the operated portion 27c of the intermediate member 27 is pressed upward by the lower operating force transmission portion 20g of the operating member 20 and biased to the upper position. In other words, the intermediate member 27 is urged counterclockwise around the shaft portion 27a in the drawing. Further, the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 is pressed downward by the upper drive portion 27e of the intermediate member 27, and the hook portion 21c is engaged with the lock claw 6d on the main body 3 side. 14B, the operated portion 27c of the intermediate member 27 is pressed downward by the upper operating force transmission portion 20h of the operating member 20 and urged to the lower position. In other words, the intermediate member 27 is biased clockwise around the shaft portion 27a in FIG. Further, the rotational force input portion 21i of the lock member 21 is pressed upward by the lower drive portion 27f of the intermediate member 27, and the engagement between the hook portion 21c and the lock claw 6d is released.

  When the pushing operation of the push button portion 20a is stopped, the operation member 20 starts to move toward the normal position by the biasing force of the torsion spring 22. However, since there is an interval t1 between the upper operation force transmission unit 20h and the upper operation force transmission unit 20h and there is an interval t4 between the upper drive unit 27e and the lower drive unit 27f, the push-down operation is stopped. As a result, the time at which the operated portion 27c of the intermediate member 27 returns to the upper position by the release operation is delayed from the time at which the operation member 20 is released. This time delay can reliably prevent re-hanging.

  Since the other configurations and operations of the fourth embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the specific shapes or structures of the operation member, the lock member, and the intermediate member are not limited to those illustrated in the embodiment as long as the functions of these members are ensured. Further, the operation member, the lock member, and the intermediate member do not necessarily have an integral structure, and may be assembled from a plurality of separate parts. Further, two or more intermediate members may be provided.

  The present invention has been described by taking a rice cooker as an example. The present invention can be applied to other household electric appliances.

The partially broken side view which shows the rice cooker which is a household electric appliance which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view seen from the front side of the rice cooker of FIG. The rear view of the rice cooker of FIG. The perspective view seen from the front side which removed the upper cover member of the rice cooker of FIG. The partial expanded sectional view of the rice cooker of FIG. (A) is the perspective view seen from the upper direction of an operation member, (B) is the perspective view seen from the front lower side of the operation member, (C) is the perspective view which looked at the operation member from the downward direction. (A) is the perspective view which looked at the lock member from the front upper side, (B) is the perspective view which looked at the lock member from the front lower side, (C) is the perspective view which looked at the lock member from the lower part. (A) is the perspective view which looked at the operation member and the lock member from above, (B) is the perspective view which looked at the operation member and the lock member from the front lower side, (C) looked at the operation member and the lock member from below. The perspective view and (D) are the perspective views which looked at the operation member and the lock member from the side lower side. The operation member and lock member in a 1st embodiment are shown, (A) is a typical sectional view in a usual position, (B) is a typical sectional view in a pushing position, (C) is a usual position and a pushing position. The typical sectional view in the middle position of. (A) is the elements on larger scale of FIG. 3, (B) is sectional drawing in the XX line of (A). The elements on larger scale which show the alternative of a slit periphery structure. The operation member and locking member in 2nd Embodiment are shown, (A) is typical sectional drawing in a normal position, (B) is typical sectional drawing in a pushing position, (C) is a normal position and a pushing position. The typical sectional view in the middle position of. The operation member and lock member in 3rd Embodiment are shown, (A) is typical sectional drawing in a normal position, (B) is typical sectional drawing in a pushing position. The operation member and lock member in 4th Embodiment are shown, (A) is typical sectional drawing in a normal position, (B) is typical sectional drawing in a pushing position.

Explanation of symbols

1 Rice cooker (household electrical appliances)
2 Rice cooker 3 Rice cooker body 4 Lid 5 Lower exterior body 6 Upper exterior body 6a Shoulder 6b Opening 6d Lock claw 6e Protruding part 6f Claw body 6g Engagement surface 6h Inclined surface 6j Bearing part 6k Hook part 7 Inner trunk 8 Operation panel 9 Handle 11 Lower lid member 11a Bearing portion 11b Spring receiving portion 11c Bearing portion 11d Through hole 11e Bearing portion 11f Spring receiving portion 11g Spring receiving portion 12 Upper lid member 12a Through hole 13 Inner lid 14 Decoration plate 16 Hinge connecting portion 17 Hinge spring (first spring)
17a Upper end side arm portion 17b Lower end side arm portion 20 Operation member 20a Push button portion 20b Connection portion 20c Shaft portion 20d Tab-like portion 20e Connecting plate portion 20f Through hole 20g Lower operation force transmission portion 20h Upper operation force transmission portion 20i Spring receiver Part 20j operating force transmission part 21 lock member (lock part)
21a Shaft portion 21b Lower connecting plate portion 21c Hook portion 21d Connecting portion 21e Hook body 21f Engaging surface 21g Inclined surface 21h Upper connecting plate portion 21i Rotational force input portion (operated portion)
22 torsion spring 23 hinge pin 24 hinge cover 24a slit 24b open end 24c closed end 24d rib 25 compression coil spring 26 lock member 26a shaft portion 26b upper connecting plate portion 26c upper operated portion 26d lower operated portion 26e lower connecting plate portion 26f Locking claw 27 Intermediate member 27a Shaft portion 27b Upper connecting plate portion 27c Operated portion 27d Lower connecting plate portion 27e Upper drive portion 27f Lower drive portion t1-t4 interval

Claims (6)

One end of the lid is rotatably attached to the device body, and is elastically biased in the opening direction by the first spring;
An operation member that is disposed at the other end of the lid, moves from a normal position to a pushing position by a push-down operation, and returns to the normal position from the push-down position by a biasing force of a second spring when the push-down operation is released;
In a household electrical appliance comprising a lock portion that releasably locks the lid and the device main body in conjunction with the operation member,
The operation member includes a lower operation force transmission unit, and an upper operation force transmission unit disposed above the lower operation force transmission unit with an interval therebetween,
The lock portion engages with an operated portion inserted into the interval of the operation member, and a main body side engaging portion provided in the device main body when the operated portion is in an upper position. A lid body side engaging portion that is disengaged from the main body side engaging portion when the operating portion is at a lower position below the upper position;
When the operation member is in the normal position, the operated portion of the lock portion is pressed by the lower operation force transmission portion and biased to the upper position, while being spaced from the upper operation force transmission portion. When the operation member is in the push-in position, the operated portion of the lock portion is pressed by the upper operation force transmission portion and biased to the lower position, while the lower side Household electrical appliances characterized in that they are opposed to the operating force transmission part with a gap. The lock portion includes a lock member attached to the lid body so as to be rotatable around a first axis in the lateral direction,
The lid side engaging portion is provided on the lower end side of the lock member, and the rotational force input portion for rotating the lock member around the first axis is provided on the upper end side of the lock member. The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that   The shape of the lock member is set such that a rotational moment around the first axis is generated due to its own weight in a direction in which the lid side engaging portion is separated from the main body side engaging portion. The household electric product according to claim 2. The lock portion is composed of the lock member,
The household electrical appliance according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the rotational force input portion of the lock member is the operated portion of the lock portion. The lock portion further includes an intermediate member attached to the lid so as to be rotatable around a second axis in the lateral direction,
The operated portion is provided on one end side of the intermediate member, and a driving portion for rotating the rotational force input portion of the lock member around the first axis is provided on the other end side of the intermediate member. The household electrical appliance according to claim 2, wherein the household electrical appliance is provided. One end of the lid is rotatably attached to the device body, and is elastically biased in the opening direction by the first spring;
An operation member that is disposed at the other end of the lid, moves from a normal position to a pushing position by a push-down operation, and returns to the normal position from the push-down position by a biasing force of a second spring when the push-down operation is released;
In a household electrical appliance comprising a lock portion that releasably locks the lid and the device main body in conjunction with the operation member,
The lock portion includes an upper operated portion, a lower operated portion disposed below and spaced from the upper operated portion, and the upper and lower operated portions are in an upper position. While engaging with a main body side engaging portion provided on the apparatus main body side, if the upper and lower operated portions are at a lower position below the upper position, the engagement with the main body side engaging portion is established. A lid-side engaging portion that is released from the joint,
The operation member includes an operation force transmission unit inserted into the interval,
When the operating member is in the normal position, the upper operated portion is pressed by the operating force transmitting portion and biased to the upper position, while the lower operated portion and the operating force transmitting portion are When the operation member is in the push-in position, the lower operation portion is pressed by the operation force transmission portion and urged to the lower position when the operation member is in the pushing position. And the operating force transmission part are opposed to each other with a space therebetween.

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