JP2008189269A - Vehicular interior member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular interior member equipped with lighting suitable for interior lighting lit up when used, and extinguished when not used. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular interior member comprises a base element, a rocking portion rockably journaled to the base element, a tilting sensor fixed to the rocking portion, and a lighting portion connected to the tilting sensor. By rocking the rocking portion. the lighting portion is lit up or extinguished, and applied especially to a container holder. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle interior member such as a container holder.

  Various interior members for vehicles are arranged in the interior of the automobile in order to ensure the convenience of passengers when moving or stopping. For example, there are an ashtray and a container holder for holding a container for beverages. These are fixed to the front panel and the back of the seat, or arranged so that they can be taken in and out of a console box.

  In recent years, it has been devised to illuminate these interior parts with the aim of confirming the position at night and the amenity effect for passengers, and various types of illuminated cup holders with devised lighting structures have been proposed.

  For example, a container holder that includes a temperature sensor and a light emission source that changes color and emits light in a different color on the outer peripheral surface of the holding portion due to a temperature change of the beverage has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). There is also known a console box that can illuminate the interior of the box body and irradiate interior items such as a cup holder arranged in the box body (see Patent Document 2).

However, these lighting structures only illuminate at night, there is nothing that changes the lighting state depending on the state of use and non-use of these interior members, and it is always satisfactory as interior lighting in the car It wasn't.
JP-A-11-31070 JP 2002-144965 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an interior member for a vehicle that is suitable as interior lighting that is turned on when used and turned off when not used.

  The vehicle interior member of the present invention includes a base, a swinging part pivotally supported by the base, a tilt sensor fixed to the swinging part, and an illumination part connected to the tilt sensor. The illumination unit is turned on or off by swinging the swing unit.

  As a preferable aspect of the vehicle interior member of the present invention, a container holder for holding a paper cup, a beverage can, and the like can be given. Although various types of container holders are known, the vehicle interior member of the present invention includes a container holder having a lid that rotates and opens during use, and a container holding port that holds the container. A container holder including a regulating member that protrudes so as to be swingable and elastically contacts the outer peripheral surface of the container to regulate the rattling of the container is preferable. In these container holders, the tilt sensor can be fixed to a lid or a regulating member that swings during use.

  Here, the inclination sensor is a tubular body having positive and negative electrodes at one end and encapsulating a conductive sphere, and the illuminating unit is preferably opened and closed by opening and closing the illumination circuit when the sphere contacts and separates from the electrode. .

  In addition, in the tilt sensor built in the lid, it is desirable that the tubular body has a bent portion. The container holder including the restriction member may further include a swing confirmation unit that opens and closes the illumination circuit by swinging the restriction member.

  In the vehicle interior member having the above-described configuration, the light source of the illumination unit is preferably an LED, and the illumination unit is preferably disposed on the lid member or the bottom of the base.

  Since the interior member for a vehicle according to the present invention incorporates a tilt sensor in the swinging portion pivoted on the base material, the conductive member in the tilt sensor can be moved by swinging the swinging portion when the interior member is used. An illumination circuit is established when the sphere contacts the electrode, and the LED of the illumination unit can be turned on. Further, when the use is finished, the swinging part is swung in a direction opposite to that in use, so that the sphere in the tilt sensor is separated from the electrode, shuts off the lighting circuit, and turns off the LED of the lighting part. be able to.

  Such an illumination structure can be configured from a low current value LED and a simple tilt sensor by providing wiring from a power source to a conventional lid or regulating member, so that it is inexpensive without significant design changes. Lighting can be obtained.

  In addition, in an inclination sensor having a configuration in which a conductive sphere is enclosed in a tubular body, by providing a simple control circuit, it is possible to illuminate without completely matching the operation of the lid or the regulating member by utilizing the characteristics. It can be easily produced. For example, when the LED is turned on, the brightness of the LED is suddenly increased and then gradually decreased, and then maintained at a certain value. When the light is turned off, the brightness is once increased and then the brightness is gradually decreased and the LED is turned off. Also good.

  Hereinafter, the vehicle interior member of the present invention will be described in detail by way of examples.

(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the main part of a container holder 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) shows a state when the container is not used, and (b) shows a state when the container is used. The container holder 1 includes a base body 2 having a bottomed cylindrical body at an upper opening for holding the container, and a lid body 3 pivotally supported by the base body 2. The lid 3 incorporates an inclination sensor 4 and an illumination unit 5. The illumination unit 5 is connected to a power source (not shown) through an electrode of the tilt sensor 4 using an LED having a small current value as a light source. The electrode 42 of the inclination sensor 4 has positive and negative electrode terminals (not shown), and is an illumination circuit capable of lighting an LED by short-circuiting between the terminals.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the tilt sensor 4. The inclination sensor 4 is a tubular body that includes an electrode 42 at one end of a tube body 41 and encloses a conductive sphere 43. A conductor (lead wire) 44 connected to the illumination unit 5 is led out from the electrode 42. Yes. The tube body 41 is made of a steel pipe having an inner diameter that approximates the diameter of the sphere 43, and has a bent portion 41a having a "<" shape. Further, the other end side of the electrode 42 of the tube body 41 is a reduced diameter portion 41 b having an inner diameter slightly smaller than that of the sphere 43, thereby preventing the sphere 43 from falling off the tube body 41.

  The tilt sensor 4 configured in this manner is oriented so that the end of the electrode 42 is positioned lower than the other end when swinging, and the electrode 42 side is fixed to the lid 3 in a substantially horizontal posture slightly higher than horizontal. It is worn. For this reason, when the container holder 1 whose lid 3 closes the opening of the base body 1 is not used, the sphere 43 is held in contact with the reduced diameter portion 41b below the bent portion 41a. Since the spherical body 43 is enclosed in the tubular body 41, it can move freely between the electrode 42 and the reduced diameter portion 41b in the tubular body 41. However, in the non-use state of FIG. 2A, since the sphere 43 is located at the lowest position (the reduced diameter portion 41b) in the tube 41, unless the lid 3 is swung to the open position. There is no contact with the electrode 42. In other words, the sphere 43 only moves within the range of the reduced diameter portion 41b and the bent portion 41a even if it rolls due to a curve or sudden stop during operation. That is, in the container holder 1, the bent portion 41 a and the reduced diameter portion 41 b of the tube body 41 are countermeasures for preventing malfunction due to rolling of the vehicle.

  The container holder 1 is used by inserting a container such as a cup C or a plastic bottle P into the base 2 after rotating the lid 3 as shown by an arrow A to the open position shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the lid 3 after being rotated is held substantially vertically along the side surface of the base 2. When the lid 3 is rotated, the inclination sensor 4 fixed to the lid 3 changes from the horizontal posture shown in FIG. 2A to the vertical posture shown in FIG. For this reason, the sphere 43 of the tilt sensor 4 is separated from the reduced diameter portion 41b by gravity, rolls in the direction of the electrode 42 over the bent portion 41a, and contacts the electrode 42. Since the sphere 43 is formed of a good conductor such as copper or steel, an illumination circuit is established by contacting the positive and negative electrode terminals, and the LED of the illumination unit 5 connected to the electrode 42 is turned on. Since the illumination unit 5 is fixed to the back surface of the lid 3, the LED irradiates the side surface of the container C (P).

  Further, when the use of the container holder 1 is finished, the container C is taken out from the base body 2 and the lid 3 is rotated in the direction of arrow B so as to be in a horizontal closed position. At this time, the sphere 43 of the inclination sensor 4 is separated from the electrode 42 and rolls in the tube 41 to be held by the reduced diameter portion 41b. When the sphere 43 is separated from the electrode 42, the illumination circuit is cut off and the LED of the illumination unit 5 is turned off.

  As described above, in this embodiment, by swinging the lid 3 of the container holder 1, the illumination unit 5 provided on the back side of the lid 3 is turned on when the container is used, and the use is terminated after the use is finished. When is closed, the illumination unit 5 is turned off. This effect can be always enjoyed as interior lighting in the vehicle because the lighting can be blinked only by opening and closing the lid 3 regardless of day and night.

(Example 2)
3 and 4 show an outline of the container holder 10 of the second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the container holder 10, and FIG. 4 shows an XX cross section of FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the location similar to Example 1. FIG.

  The container holder 10 includes a base body 12 on which the container is placed and a holding portion 13 that holds the peripheral wall of the container. Since the holding unit 13 is formed with two circular container holding ports 13a, the container holder 10 can hold two containers.

  A partition wall 12b is provided at the center of the bottom 12a of the base 12 so as to separate the two containers. The partition member 12b is provided with a regulating member 14 that elastically contacts the outer peripheral surface of the container and regulates rattling of the container. It is pivotably supported. The restricting member 14 is always held at a substantially horizontal position by the urging force of the spring 15 (see FIG. 5) like the restricting member 14 on the left side of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the regulating member 14 has a built-in tilt sensor 4, and the tilt sensor 4 is connected to the illumination unit 5 embedded in the bottom (tray) 12 a of the base 12 by a conductor (not shown).

  The inclination sensor 4 is a tubular body that includes an electrode 42 at one end of a straight tubular body 41 and encloses a conductive sphere 43. The conductor connected to the illumination unit 5 is led out from the electrode 42. Yes. The electrode 42 of the inclination sensor has positive and negative electrode terminals (not shown), and is a lighting circuit that can light the LED by short-circuiting between the terminals.

  Such an inclination sensor 4 is fixed in parallel to the back surface of the regulating member 14 with the electrode 42 directed toward the free end 14 a of the regulating member 14. A first contact 17 is provided in the vicinity of the swing shaft 16 of the restricting member 14 so as to come into contact with and separate from the second contact 18 disposed on the partition wall 12b by the swing of the restricting member. The first contact 17 and the second contact 18 are configured such that the sphere 43 of the tilt sensor 4 does not contact the electrode 42 when the regulating member 14 swings and the first contact 17 is separated from the second contact 18. And a swing confirmation means 20 for preventing the illumination unit 5 from turning on. By providing such swing confirmation means 20, it is possible to prevent unnecessary blinking of the LED due to rolling of the sphere 43 other than the swing of the regulating member such as a curve during driving or sudden stop.

  The operation of the container holder 10 having the above configuration is as follows.

  The container holding port 13 on the left side of FIG. 4 shows a non-use state where no container is held. At this time, the restricting member 14 has a substantially horizontal posture in which the free end 14 a side is slightly higher than the shaft support side, and the spherical body 43 of the tilt sensor 4 is located on the shaft support side of the tube body 41. For this reason, the illumination circuit is cut off from the power source, and the LED is turned off.

  The container holding port 13 on the right side of FIG. The regulating member 14 swings downward along the outer peripheral surface of the container C, and the free end 14 a is in elastic contact with the outer peripheral surface of the container C by the biasing force of the spring 15. The regulating member 14 regulates the rattling of the container in cooperation with the inner peripheral edge of the container holding port 13a by pressing the outer peripheral surface of the container.

  When the regulating member 14 swings in this way, the sphere 43 of the tilt sensor 4 rolls in the direction of the electrode 42 due to gravity and comes into contact with the positive and negative electrode terminals. Since it is confirmed that the regulating member swings away from the second contact 18, the illumination circuit 5 is established and the LED of the illumination unit 5 connected to the tilt sensor 4 is turned on. Since the illumination unit 5 is embedded in the substrate bottom (tray) 12a, the LED irradiates the bottom surface of the container C (P) and the periphery of the bottom.

  Further, when the container C is taken out from the container holding port 13, the restricting member 14 becomes substantially horizontal like the restricting member 14 on the left side of FIG. 5 by the urging force of the spring 15, and the sphere 43 of the inclination sensor is separated from the electrode 42. . Thereby, an illumination circuit is interrupted | blocked and LED of the illumination part 5 turns off.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the illumination provided on the bottom of the substrate is turned on by placing the container on the container holder, and the illumination unit is turned off by removing the container from the container holder. This action can be enjoyed as interior lighting in the vehicle because the lighting can be flashed only by swinging of the regulating member (removal of the container) regardless of day and night.

  The vehicle interior member of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, the container holder is taken as an example of the vehicle interior member. However, the vehicle interior member of the present invention is not limited to the container holder and can be suitably used as long as it is an interior member having a swinging portion. . For example, the interior of a car can be applied to an ashtray that is used after the lid is swung, a tray for small items that are used in a horizontal posture after swinging, or a LED that has a different emission color. It is more useful as

  The vehicle interior member of the present invention can be suitably used as long as it is an interior member having a swinging portion. In particular, the present invention is useful when applied to a container holder having a lid or a container holder having a regulating member that regulates rattling of the container.

It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the container holder of Example 1. FIG. (A) shows when not in use, and (b) shows when in use holding the container. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the inclination sensor suitable for the container holder of FIG. (A) is the state at the time of non-use of a container holder, (b) shows the state at the time of use which hold | maintained the container. It is a plane schematic diagram which shows the container holder of Example 2. It is a schematic diagram which shows the XX cross section of FIG. It is a principal part expansion schematic diagram explaining the control member and illumination structure of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 10: Container holder 2, 12: Base | substrate 3: Lid body (oscillation part) 4: Tilt sensor 5: Illumination part 14: Restriction member 15: Spring 16: Oscillation shaft 17: 1st contact 18: 2nd 20: Swing confirmation means 41 Tube 42: Electrode 43: Sphere C: Container (cup)

Claims (8)

A base and a swinging part pivotally supported by the base;
An inclination sensor fixed to the swinging portion;
An illumination unit connected to the tilt sensor,
An interior member for a vehicle, wherein the lighting unit is turned on or off by swinging the swinging unit.   The vehicle interior member according to claim 1, wherein the interior member is a container holder on which a container is placed.   The vehicle interior member according to claim 2, wherein the swinging portion is a lid.   The vehicle interior member according to claim 2, wherein the swinging portion is a restricting member that protrudes into a container holding port for holding the container so as to swing and elastically contacts the outer peripheral surface of the container to restrict the rattling of the container. .   The tilt sensor is a tubular body having positive and negative electrodes at one end and encapsulating a conductive sphere, and when the sphere contacts and separates from the electrode, an illumination circuit is opened and closed to blink the illumination section. The interior member for vehicles in any one of 1-4.   The vehicle interior member according to claim 5, wherein the tubular body has a bent portion.   The vehicle interior member according to claim 4, further comprising swing confirmation means for opening and closing an illumination circuit by swinging the regulating member.   The vehicle interior member according to claim 1, wherein the illumination unit uses an LED as a light source.

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