JP2015232821A - Cup rest - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily provide a waterproof function for a keyboard without a waterproof function.SOLUTION: A cup rest suitable for use with a keyboard includes: a cup rest part which is arranged horizontally and suitable for placing a cup for drink; and a liquid stop part which rises in a height direction near 1 directional end of the cup rest part and can stop liquid splashing from above the cup rest part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cup holder, and more particularly to a cup holder suitable for use in combination with a keyboard.

  A keyboard mounted on or connected to a personal computer includes a number of keys that can be moved up and down. Each key is supported by an elastic member, and when pressed from above, moves downward to close the switch, and releases the pressure to return upward according to the elastic force to open the switch.

  In many cases, a keyboard containing tea or coffee is placed near the computer and the keyboard is operated. Sometimes the liquid in the cup spills on the keyboard. The spilled liquid may cause the computer to stop operating or the computer to malfunction or be destroyed.

  Waterproof keyboards have also been proposed for personal computers used in liquid environments. A structure in which a liquid-resistant seal is disposed between the panel on which the key is disposed and the motherboard disposed below the panel so that liquid can be prevented from flowing onto the motherboard even if the liquid flows onto the keyboard (for example, Patent Document 1). ) Or by placing a sealing layer on the bottom surface of the panel having a plurality of openings for receiving the key, adhering the sealing layer to the panel so as to surround the opening of the panel, and spilling liquid on the key. A structure for preventing liquid from flowing into the motherboard (for example, Patent Document 2) has been proposed.

JP-A-7-334283, JP 2009-59340 A.

  The structure of a waterproof keyboard is complicated. If you are using a keyboard that does not have waterproof performance, you will need to purchase at least a new keyboard if you want to get a waterproof function. It is desirable that a waterproof function can be easily given to a keyboard that does not have a waterproof function.

According to the example,
A cup holder suitable for use with a keyboard, wherein the cup holder is disposed horizontally and is suitable for placing a drink cup, and rises in the height direction in the vicinity of one end of the cup holder, A cup holder is provided that includes a liquid stopper that stops the liquid when the liquid comes from above the cup holder.

  Even if a computer user tries to pick up a cup to drink and accidentally spills liquid, it can stop flying when it hits the liquid stop, preventing liquid from splashing on the keyboard .

1A-1D show a cup holder according to the first embodiment, FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a cup holder combined with a personal computer, FIGS. 1B and 1C are side views of the cup holder alone, and a side view of the cup holder in use. FIG. 1D is a side view of the cup holder in a folded state. 2A-2E show a cup holder according to the second embodiment, FIG. 2A is a side view of the cup holder, FIG. 2B is a side view of the base, FIG. 2C is a top view of the base, and FIG. 2D is a plan view of the liquid stop plate. FIG. 2E is a perspective view of a state in which the engaging portion of the liquid stopper plate is engaged with the groove of the base portion. 3A is a perspective view showing a cup holder according to a third embodiment, FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 3D are plan views of components, and FIG. 3E is a side view showing an engaging portion of a liquid stopper. 4A is a perspective view showing a modification of the independent cup holder, FIG. 4B is a plan view of the liquid stopper, and FIG. 4C is a side view showing the lower end of the liquid stopper and the engaging portion of the groove. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modification in which a support structure for the liquid stopper plate is added.

1 cup holder, 2 insertion part, 3 cup holder, 4 liquid stopper part, 5 base part, 6 holding groove, 7 liquid stopper plate, 8 engaging part, 9 bent part, 10 personal computer, 11 keyboard, 12 body, 14 display 15 cup holder, 16 groove, 17 liquid stopper, 18 engaging part, 20 cup, 21 liquid,

  1A-1D show a cup holder according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1A, the cup holder 1 is used by inserting a part thereof below the main body 12 of the notebook computer 10. A keyboard 11 is disposed on the upper surface of the main body 12 of the personal computer 10. A display 14 such as a liquid crystal display device is coupled to the main body 12 by a rotatable shaft.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the cup holder 1 is continuous with the insertion part 2 and the insertion part 2 that are horizontally arranged below the keyboard 11 provided in the main body 12, and is suitable for placing a drink cup horizontally. The cup holder 3 and the liquid stopper 4 rising in the height direction between the insertion part and the cup holder are configured. The cup holder 1 can be formed using various organic resin materials, for example. The insertion part 2 and the cup holder part 3 may be formed of a flexible material such as a durable and strong silicone resin, and the liquid stopper part 4 may be formed of a foaming material that prevents liquid splashing. Of course, you may form the whole with the same material.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the user of the personal computer 10 inserts the insertion part 2 of the cup holder 1 into the lower part of the main body 12 having the keyboard 11 of the personal computer 10 and places a cup of drink on the cup holder 3 of the cup holder 1. 20 is put. The insertion portion 2 is fixed by the personal computer main body 12, and the cup holder 1 is stably held.

  As shown in FIG. 1C, even if the user of the personal computer accidentally tilts the cup 20 and spills the liquid 21 contained therein, the liquid 21 that hits the liquid stopper 4 of the cup holder 1 12 is prevented from flying over or flowing into. As described above, the liquid stopper 4 has a function of stopping the liquid flying from above the cup holder 3 to above the insertion part 2. Further, even if the entire liquid that has been put in the cup 20 flows out onto the cup holder 3, it is possible to prevent the keyboard 11 and the main body 12 of the personal computer 10 from being damaged by the liquid 21 that has flowed out.

  FIG. 1D shows a state in which the cup holder 1 is folded when not in use. For example, the insertion part 2, the cup holder 3 can be formed of a flexible resin material and can be bent, so that the insertion part 2, the liquid stopper 4 and the cup holder 3 can be combined. The advantage of saving space when not in use is obtained.

  2A-2E show the cup holder according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2A, the cup holder 1 includes a base portion 5 having a plate-like shape suitable for placement on a horizontal plane and a groove 6 formed on the upper surface, and an engaging portion 8 in the groove 6 of the base portion 5. And a liquid retaining plate 7 that is fitted and rises upward.

  2B and 2C are a side view and a top view of the base portion 5 in a state where the liquid stopper plate 7 is not fitted. The groove 6 has a forward tapered cross-sectional shape having a width extending downward from the upper surface of the base portion 5 as shown in FIG. 2B, and a bent portion 9 bent in the in-plane direction of the base portion 5 as shown in FIG. 2C. Have

  FIG. 2D shows a plan view of the liquid stop plate 7 in a free state. The liquid stopper plate 7 is a flat plate shape in a free state, and includes a forward taper type engaging portion 8 whose thickness gradually increases on both sides at the lower end. When the liquid stopper plate 7 is coupled to the base 5, for example, the engaging portion 8 at the end of the liquid stopper plate 7 is fitted into one end of the groove 6 of the base 5 and the engaging portion 8 of the liquid stopper plate 7 is pushed in. To reach the other end of the groove 6. By forming the resin with a bendable resin or the like, the liquid stopper plate 7 is gradually curved at the bent portion 9 of the groove 6 following the shape of the bent portion 9.

  FIG. 2E is a perspective view showing the liquid stopper plate 7 in a bent state by fitting the engaging portion 8 into the groove 6 of the base portion 5. The liquid stopper plate 7 has a three-dimensional shape bent in the surface normal direction, whereby the strength is increased. The range of materials that satisfy the required strength can be expanded.

  When not in use, by removing the liquid stopper plate 7 from the base portion 5, two flat plate-like members as shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D can be obtained. The storage location does not require a large thickness.

  3A-3E show a cup holder according to a third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3A, a cup holder 1 is placed near the keyboard 100 of a desktop personal computer. The keyboard 100 has a large number of key tops 101 and has a circuit portion including key switches below the key tops 101. The cup holder 1 includes a horizontal plate-like base portion 15 for placing the cup 20 and liquid stoppers 17A and 17B that rise upward from the base portion 15. This cup holder does not have an insertion part to be inserted under the keyboard, and may be arranged at an arbitrary place. A cup holder that does not have an insertion portion is called a stand-alone cup holder.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the base 15 has two grooves 16A and 16B in the vicinity of the left side and the back side. The groove 16B merges with the groove 16A and terminates.

  3C and 3D are plan views of the liquid stoppers 17A and 17B (may be collectively referred to as 17). Each is provided with connecting portions 18A and 18B (collectively 18) on the bottom side of the plate-like member. FIG. 3E is a side view showing a coupling state between the coupling portion 18 of the liquid stopper 17 and the groove 16 of the base portion 15. As in the second embodiment, the tapered coupling portion 18 is fitted in the tapered groove 16.

  4A, 4B, 4C show a variation of the stand-alone cup holder. As shown in FIG. 4A, the liquid stopper 17 is coupled to the upper surface of the elliptical plate-like base 15. As shown in FIG. 4B, the liquid stopper 17 in the free state has a flat plate shape and can be easily stored. As shown in FIG. 4C, the groove 16 formed on the upper surface of the base 15 has a rectangular cross section instead of a tapered cross section. The engaging portion of the liquid stopper 17 does not have a tapered shape and has a constant thickness. When the plate-like liquid stopper 17 is bent and inserted into the groove 16, the liquid stopper 17 and the groove 16 are coupled by the restoring force of the liquid stopper 17. For example, even if a liquid hits the liquid stopper 17 from the inside, the liquid stopper 17 does not easily fall down and the connection with the base does not come off.

  FIG. 5 shows a modification in which a support structure for the liquid stopper plate is added as an example of the first embodiment. An engagement portion 23 such as a cut is formed in the right back of the cup holder 3, and an engagement portion 24 such as a cut is formed in the upper back of the liquid stopper plate 4, and a stripe shape or the like is formed between the engagement portions 23, 24. The support member 25 is stretched. The support member 25 can be formed of, for example, a plastic tape.

  When the liquid stop plate 4 is about to fall to the left side, the support member 25 stops. Even if the liquid flow from the upper side of the cup holder 3 toward the left side hits the liquid stopper plate 4, the liquid stopper plate 4 does not easily fall down or break. Even if the structure of the liquid stopper plate and the support portion are configured simply, a configuration that sufficiently functions can be obtained.

  In addition, although the structure which provides an auxiliary | assistant support member was demonstrated to Example 1 as an example, it is possible to provide the same auxiliary | assistant support member also in another Example. For example, in the second embodiment, an engaging portion can be formed at the right back of the base portion 5 and the upper back of the liquid stopper plate 7 and connected by a support member. In the third embodiment, an engaging portion is formed at the right back of the cup holder 15 and the upper back of the liquid stopper plate 17A, and is connected by an auxiliary support member, or the upper back of the liquid stopper plate 17A and the liquid stopper plate 17B. It is possible to form an engaging portion at the upper left end of the slab and connect it with an auxiliary support member. The shape of the auxiliary support member is not limited to the stripe shape.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated along the Example, these are not restrictive. The exemplified materials, structures, shapes, and the like can be variously changed. For example, a non-slip resin surface may be formed on the back surface of the plate-like member constituting the cup holder. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other substitutions, modifications, improvements, combinations, and the like are possible.

Claims (8)

  A cup holder suitable for use with a keyboard, wherein the cup holder is disposed horizontally and is suitable for placing a drink cup, and rises in the height direction in the vicinity of one end of the cup holder, A cup holder including a liquid stopper that stops the liquid when the liquid comes from above the cup holder.   Furthermore, it has an insertion part suitable for arrange | positioning horizontally below the said cup mounting part and below a keyboard, The said liquid stop part is arrange | positioned between the said cup mounting part and the said insertion part. The cup holder according to 1.   The cup holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid stopper is separable from the cup holder.   The cup holder according to claim 3, wherein the cup holder has a groove that engages with a lower end of the liquid stopper.   The cup holder according to claim 4, wherein a cross section of the groove and a lower end of the liquid stopper has a tapered shape.   The cup holder according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the groove has a portion bent in the cup holder surface, and the liquid stopper forms a bent surface in a state of being engaged with the cup holder.   The cup holder according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the liquid stopper is composed of a plurality of plate-like members.   The cup holder according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the liquid stopper can be formed in a flat plate shape and can be stored in a state of being overlapped with the cup holder.

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