JP7635171B2 - Storage device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a storage device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a storage box that has a luggage carrying section that projects and retracts under the rear seat, and when the bottom of the luggage carrying section is raised, it becomes a deep-bottomed box.

Patent document 2 also discloses a storage box that has a rotating side wall under the seat, and a first free-standing end wall and a second free-standing end wall at both ends of the side wall that fold inward and link with the side wall.

Patent No. 6674080 US Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0072863

In the structure described in Patent Document 1, the storage box cannot stand on its own, so it is necessary to use both hands to lift the bottom.

In the configuration described in Patent Document 2, when folding the free-standing end walls of the storage box, the user had to fold the first free-standing end wall and the second free-standing end wall inward.

The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a storage device that is easy to use.

A first aspect of the present disclosure is a storage device that includes a storage section that is disposed under a seat of a vehicle and on which items are placed, a first panel that is attached to the storage section and is rotatable between a tilted position inclined relative to the storage section and an upright position, a second panel that is attached to a side of the first panel and is rotatable between a folded position in which it is folded relative to the first panel and an unfolded position in which it is unfolded, a panel biasing member that biases the second panel from the folded position toward the unfolded position, and a guide mechanism that guides the second panel to the unfolded position when the first panel rotates to the upright position and guides the second panel to the folded position when the first panel rotates to the tilted position.

In this storage device, when the first panel is rotated from the reclined position to the upright position, the second panel, biased by the biasing member, is guided by the guide mechanism and rotates to the unfolded position. Also, when the first panel is rotated from the upright position to the reclined position, the second panel is guided by the guide mechanism and rotates to the folded position against the biasing force of the biasing member.

With the above storage device, the second panel rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the first panel, so compared to a configuration in which the rotation of the first panel and the rotation of the second panel are independent, for example, the first panel and the second panel can be opened with a simple operation, making it easier to use.

In a second aspect of the present disclosure, in the storage device described in the first aspect, the guide mechanism includes a guide portion provided in the storage portion and a guided portion provided in the second panel, the guide portion being an inclined surface that inclines toward the center of the rotation axis of the first panel as it moves away from the rotation axis in a plan view, and the guided portion slides on the inclined surface when the first panel is rotated.

In this storage device, the guide portion is an inclined surface that is inclined toward the center of the rotation axis of the first panel, so that when the first panel rotates to the tilted position, the second panel is guided by the inclined surface and rotates to the folded position.

Therefore, with this storage device, when the first panel is rotated to the tilted position, the second panel can be rotated smoothly.

A third aspect of the present disclosure is a storage device according to the second aspect, in which the storage section has a side wall rising from an end of the first panel in the direction of the rotation axis, the first panel is attached to the side wall, and the guide section is provided on the side wall.

In this storage device, the storage section has a side wall, so when the first panel is in an upright position, the second panel comes into contact with the side wall, restricting the rotation of the second panel. Also, because the storage section has a side wall, the first panel can be attached to the side wall, and a guide section can be provided on the side wall.

This storage device therefore makes it possible to reduce the number of parts in the storage device.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a storage device according to any one of the first to third aspects, in which the first panel is rotatably connected to the storage section by a hinge mechanism, and the hinge mechanism includes a shaft provided on the first panel, a first cam disposed on the outer periphery of the shaft and movable along the shaft, a second cam detachably attached to the storage section and engaging with the first cam to hold the first panel in the upright position and the reclined position, and a cam biasing member that biases the first cam toward the second cam.

In this storage device, the hinge mechanism has a first cam and a second cam, and the first cam is urged toward the second cam by a cam urging member, and the first cam engages with the second cam when the first panel is in the upright position and the tilted position, thereby maintaining the position of the first panel.

Therefore, with this storage device, the first panel can maintain both an upright and a tilted position. When the first panel is rotated to the upright position, the user can tactilely know that the first panel has rotated to the upright position, and when the first panel is rotated to the tilted position, the user can tactilely know that the first panel has rotated to the tilted position.

A fifth aspect of the present disclosure is a storage device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in which the second panels are attached to both sides of the first panel, and the width of the second panels is half or less than the width of the first panel.

With this storage device, the width of the second panel is less than half the width of the first panel, so that the second panels can be prevented from interfering with each other when they rotate.

A sixth aspect of the present disclosure is a storage device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, in which the rotation axis direction of the second panel is perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the first panel.

With this storage device, the rotation axis direction of the second panel is perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the first panel, making it easier to hold items between the first and second panels compared to, for example, a configuration in which the rotation axis direction of the second panel intersects with the rotation axis direction of the first panel.

A seventh aspect of the present disclosure is a storage device according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects that refer to the third aspect, in which a cushioning material is attached to the second panel, and when the second panel is in the deployed position, the second panel abuts against the side wall via the cushioning material.

With this storage device, when the second panel is deployed, it abuts against the side wall via the cushioning material, which reduces damage to the second panel and the side wall compared to a configuration in which the second panel and the side wall abut directly.

In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, in the storage device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, an inclined portion is provided at the end of the first panel opposite the side attached to the storage section, the inclined portion being inclined in the direction in which the first panel tilts.

In this storage device, when the first panel is in an upright state and a vertical force is applied to the first panel from above, such as by a falling object, a portion of the vertical force is converted by the inclined portion of the first panel into a force that rotates the first panel in a tilting direction. In other words, the force applied vertically to the first panel is dispersed by the inclined portion.

Therefore, with this storage device, if a vertical force is applied to the first panel from above by a falling object or the like, the force applied in the vertical direction is dispersed by the inclined portion of the first panel, preventing damage to the first panel.

A ninth aspect of the present disclosure is a storage device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, in which the storage section is configured to be movable in a direction to be pulled out from under the seat.

With this storage device, by pulling out the storage section from under the seat and then expanding the first and second panels, it is possible to place large items or multiple small items in the storage section.

This disclosure provides a user-friendly storage device.

1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is pulled out from under a seat and used; FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a state in which a first panel and a second panel of the storage device are unfolded. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a drawer device of a storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Continuing from FIG. 3, this is a plan view illustrating a drawer device of a storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Continuing from FIG. 3, this is a rear view illustrating the drawer device of the storage device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a first panel and a second panel of a storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating the second panel of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in which (A) is a front view of the right-side second panel, and (B) is a cross-sectional view of the right-side second panel as viewed from the 7A-7A direction. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a hinge mechanism of a storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a first cam of a hinge mechanism of a storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which (A) is a perspective view seen from the front, and (B) is a perspective view seen from the rear. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a second cam of a hinge mechanism of a storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which (A) is a perspective view seen from the front, and (B) is a perspective view seen from the rear. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the operation of a first panel and a second panel of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in which (A) shows the first panel tilted and the second panel folded, (B) shows the first panel rotating to an upright position and the second panel rotating to an unfolded position, and (C) shows the first panel standing up in the upright position and the second panel unfolded to the unfolded position. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the operation of a hinge mechanism of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in which (A) is a diagram showing the hinge mechanism when the first panel is tilted, (B) is a diagram showing the hinge mechanism when the first panel is rotated to an upright position, and (C) is a diagram showing the hinge mechanism when the first panel is upright in an upright position. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a guided portion of a second panel of the storage device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure and a guide portion of the storage portion. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a guided portion and a guiding portion slide against each other when a second panel of the storage device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is in an unfolded state. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing how, when a first panel of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure rotates from an upright position to a reclined position, the guided portion of the second panel slides against the guide portion, and the second panel rotates from an unfolded position to a folded position. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a state in which a hinge mechanism of a storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is fixed to a storage section.

A storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that in each drawing, the same or equivalent components and parts are given the same reference symbols. Also, the dimensional ratios in the drawings have been exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

The arrow UP in each figure is vertical and points upward toward the storage device 10. The arrow LH is horizontal and points leftward relative to the rotation axis of the first panel 40 of the storage device 10. The arrow RH is horizontal and points rightward relative to the rotation axis of the first panel 40 of the storage device 10. The arrow FR is horizontal and points forward toward the storage device 10 (the direction in which the storage section 20 is pulled out). The arrow RR is horizontal and points backward toward the storage device 10.

In the following explanation, the "up-down direction" may mean "both up and down" or "either up or down". The "left-right direction" may mean "both right and left" or "either right or left". The "left-right direction" may also be referred to as the lateral or horizontal direction. The "front-rear direction" may also be referred to as the forward or rearward direction or "either forward or rearward". The "front-rear direction" may also be referred to as the lateral or horizontal direction. The up-down direction, left-right direction, and front-rear direction are perpendicular to each other.

In addition, in the following description, "standing direction S1" refers to the direction in which the first panel 40 rotates from a tilted position in which it is tilted relative to the storage section 20 to an upright position in which it is upright relative to the storage section 20, and "tilting direction S2" refers to the direction in which the first panel 40 rotates from a standing position in which it is upright to a tilted position in which it is tilted.

In the following description, the "unfolding direction D1" refers to the direction in which the second panel 50 rotates from a folded position in which it is folded relative to the first panel 40 to an unfolded position in which it is opened outward in the left and right directions, and the "folding direction" refers to the direction in which the second panel 50 rotates from a folded position in which it is unfolded relative to the first panel 40 to a folded position in which it is folded.

(composition)
1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a storage device 10 of this embodiment is pulled out from a storage section 98 under a vehicle seat 90 and used. The storage device 10 of this embodiment includes, as an example, a storage section 20, a first panel 40, and a second panel 50.

As shown in FIG. 1, the storage section 20 is a portion of the storage device 10 where luggage (not shown) can be placed. The storage section 20 has a bottom plate 24 that extends in the front-rear direction of the storage device 10, and side walls 22 that rise vertically from both left-right ends of the bottom plate 24.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pull member 36 is provided in front of the storage unit 20. The pull member 36 is a portion that is pulled when the user pulls out the storage device 10 stored under the seat 90 in the storage unit 20.

The tensioning portion 36 also has a portion that rises up in front of the storage portion 20 relative to the bottom plate 24. In other words, the tensioning portion 36 also serves as the front wall of the storage portion 20.

The first panel 40 is attached to the front of the storage section 20 so as to be rotatable (movable) around an axis in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the pull-out direction, i.e., the left-right direction of the storage section 20, and can assume an upright position as shown in FIG. 1 and a tilted position tilted backward, as described below. Here, the position of the first panel 40 in the upright position refers to the upright state of the first panel 40, and the position of the first panel 40 in the tilted position refers to the tilted state of the first panel 40.

The second panel 50 is provided at both left and right ends of the first panel 40 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis perpendicular to the front-rear direction, and can assume an unfolded position as shown in FIG. 1 and a folded position as described below when the first panel 40 is in an upright position. Here, the unfolded position of the second panel 50 refers to the unfolded state of the second panel 50, and the folded position of the second panel 50 refers to the folded state of the second panel 50.

As shown in FIG. 1, the storage device 10 of this embodiment is used in such a state that, as an example, when the storage section 20 is pulled out from the storage section 98 under the seat 90 of the vehicle by the user, the first panel 40 attached to the storage section 20 stands up and the second panel 50 is unfolded.

The front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-to-down directions of the seat 90 coincide with the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-to-down directions of the storage device 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the first panel 40 is erected and the second panel 50 is unfolded, the vertical height of the first panel 40 and the second panel 50 is higher than the side wall 22 of the storage section 20.

In other words, by setting the first panel 40 to an upright position and the second panel 50 to an unfolded position, the storage device 10 is capable of placing large items or multiple small items in the storage section 20.

In addition, the first panel 40 and the second panel 50 of the storage device 10 of this embodiment can be brought from the state shown in FIG. 1 to a state in which the second panel 50 is folded and the first panel 40 is tilted toward the storage section 20.

When the second panel 50 is folded and the first panel 40 is tilted into the storage section 20, the first panel 40 and the second panel 50 are stored in the storage section 20 having the side walls 22 and the bottom plate 24, so that the storage device 10 can be stored in the storage section 98 under the seat 90.

The manner in which the user stands up the first panel 40 and unfolds the second panel 50, and the manner in which the user tilts the first panel 40 and folds the second panel 50 will be described later.

Next, the storage device 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 15 as appropriate.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the storage device 10 of this embodiment as seen from the rear.

As shown in FIG. 2, a rail fitting portion 32 is formed on the upper portion of the side wall 22 along the front-rear direction, protruding outward in the left-right direction from the outer surface of the side wall 22 in the left-right direction beyond the side wall 22.

The rail fitting portion 32 is shaped to fit loosely with a rail 92 (see also FIG. 5) formed in the storage portion 98 below the seat 90.

At the rear end of the storage section 20, a rear wall 38 is formed that rises vertically from the bottom plate 24. In other words, the storage section 20 is shaped like a box that is open at the top, and is made up of the bottom plate 24, the side walls 22 formed on both the left and right sides of the bottom plate 24, the rear wall 38, and the tension section 36.

In addition, in this embodiment, the storage section 20 is formed from a hard resin, as an example.

In addition, in the storage section 20 of this embodiment, as an example, the bottom plate 24, the tension portion 36, the rear wall 38, and the side wall 22 are each formed integrally, but this is not limited thereto, and they may be formed as separate bodies and combined to form the storage section 20.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, extensions 96 are formed on both the left and right sides of the rear wall 38.

(Extending portion 96)
As an example, the extension portion 96 is a portion that extends from the rear wall 38 of the storage section 20 rearward beyond the rail fitting portion 32 and outward in the left-right direction.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the extension portion 96 is formed to have a vertical length longer than the rail fitting portion 32. In other words, when the storage device 10 is viewed from the rear, the extension portion 96 is formed to protrude at least on one side, either above or below the rail fitting portion 32.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the extension portion 96 extends from the rear surface of the rear wall 38 slightly inward in the left-right direction beyond the rail fitting portion 32.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, it is preferable that a recess 33 recessed toward the inside in the left-right direction is provided on the outer left-right direction and forward side of the extension portion 96.

Figure 5 shows the storage device 10 of this embodiment loosely fitted into the groove of the rail 92 provided in the storage section 98 under the seat 90, as viewed from the rear.

As shown in FIG. 5, the storage section 98 is provided with rails 92 that are roughly U-shaped on both the left and right sides and have grooves that open toward the inside in the left and right directions.

The rails 92 extend in the front-to-rear direction of the storage device 10, i.e., in the front-to-rear direction of the storage section 98, beyond the drawer length of the storage device 10.

Here, the groove portion of the rail 92 and the rail fitting portion 32 are formed so that a small gap is created when they are combined.

In other words, the groove of the rail 92 and the rail fitting portion 32 fit loosely into each other, so the storage device 10 can be pulled out and stored in the front-rear direction while being supported by the groove of the rail 92 by the rail fitting portion 32.

However, as shown in FIG. 1, when the storage device 10 is pulled out, the length of the groove of the rail 92 that is loosely fitted into the rail fitting portion 32 is shorter than when the storage device 10 is stored. This raises concerns about the storage device 10 tilting to the left or right.

(Actions and Effects of the Extension Portion 96)
In the storage device 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, with the rail fitting portion 32 loosely fitted in the groove portion, the extension portion 96 faces the rail 92 with a small gap therebetween.

Therefore, if the storage device 10 tilts left or right, the extension 96 comes into contact with a portion of the rail 92 other than the groove, reducing the left or right tilt of the storage device 10, i.e., wobbling.

In the above description, the extension 96 is formed integrally with the rear wall 38, but it may be formed separately from the rear wall 38 and attached to it.

In addition, in this embodiment, the extension portion 96 is formed only on both the left and right sides of the rear wall 38, but this is not limited as long as it extends rearward beyond the rail fitting portion 32 and faces the rail 92 with a small gap between them.

Next, we will explain the first panel 40 and the second panel 50 of this embodiment.

(First Panel 40 and Second Panel 50)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the first panel 40 of this embodiment is erected and the second panel 50 is unfolded.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first panel 40 of this embodiment is a plate material that has an inclined portion 42 at the top when in an upright position and hinge attachment portions 44 on both the left and right sides of the bottom, and as an example, is generally rectangular when viewed from the front.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vertical length of the first panel 40 in the upright state is longer than the side wall 22 and the tensioning portion 36 of the storage section 20, and as an example, it protrudes 100 mm above the storage section 20.

The length of the first panel 40 in the left-right direction is set to a length that allows it to be stored between the side walls 22 of the storage section 20.

The hinge mounting portions 44 are recessed portions on both left and right sides of the lower portion of the first panel 40, to which the hinge mechanism 60 is attached (see also FIG. 8).

The first panel 40 is also connected to the side wall 22 of the storage section 20 via a hinge mechanism 60 attached to the hinge mounting portion 44. This hinge mechanism 60 will be described later.

The first panel 40 is formed from a hard resin, for example.

As shown in FIG. 6, the second panel 50 is a pair of plates provided on both the left and right sides of the first panel 40 via an unfolding mechanism 80.

The second panel 50 is formed of a hard resin, for example.
The storage section 20, the first panel 40, and the second panel 50 constituting the storage device 10 may be formed of the same resin, or may be formed of different resins.

In addition, the width of the second panel 50, i.e., the length in the front-to-rear direction shown in FIG. 6, is less than half the width (length in the left-to-right direction) of the first panel 40.

As shown in FIG. 6, the second panel 50 is a member that is symmetrical in the left-right direction to the first panel 40. In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between the pair of left and right second panels 50, they will be referred to as the second panel 50, and when there is a need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as the right second panel 50A and the left second panel 50B.

The second panel 50 is biased in the deployment direction D1 relative to the first panel 40 by the panel biasing member 82 of the deployment mechanism 80, as shown in FIG. 6. The panel biasing member 82 may be any member, but one example is a torsion spring.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lower part of the second panel 50 is formed with, as an example, an extension portion 52 that expands downward on the rear side in the front-to-rear direction, and a guided portion 56 that protrudes downward on the front-to-rear direction forward side of the extension portion 52.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, which will be described later, the extension portion 52 has a cushioning material 54 attached to the lower edge portion 52U so as to sandwich the lower edge portion 52U. The cushioning material 54 may be any soft material, but in this embodiment, felt is used as an example.

The position and length at which the cushioning material 54 is attached are not particularly limited as long as they are the position and length at which the extension portion 52 and the side wall 22 abut, as described below. As an example, when the second panel 50 is in an unfolded state, the length is about half the length from the lower end of the extension portion 52 to the lower side of the lower edge portion 52U. The cushioning material 54 is not shown in any of the figures other than Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 7 is a diagram explaining the right-side second panel 50A, where Figure 7(A) is a front view of the right-side second panel 50A, and Figure 7(B) is a cross-sectional view of the right-side second panel 50A as viewed from the 7A-7A direction.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the guided portion 56 has a sliding surface 58 on the outer side in the left-right direction, for example.

The sliding surface 58 is a portion that bulges outward from the inner side of the right second panel 50A in the left-right direction and slopes inward in the left-right direction toward the rear side of the right second panel 50A.

When attached to the first panel 40, the left second panel 50B is plane-symmetrical to the right second panel 50A.

Next, the hinge mechanism 60 of the storage device 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 10 as appropriate.

(Hinge mechanism 60)
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the hinge structure by cutting away a portion of the right side of the first panel 40 of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, the hinge mechanism 60 includes a shaft 64 provided on the first panel 40, a first cam 66 arranged on the outer periphery of the shaft 64 and movable along the shaft 64, a second cam 74 removably attached to the storage section 20 and engaging with the first cam 66 to hold the first panel 40 in the upright position and the reclined position, and a cam biasing member 62 that biases the first cam 66 toward the second cam 74.

The shaft 64 is the axis of rotation of the first panel 40, which is attached to the lower part of the first panel 40 when the first panel 40 is in an upright position, and is arranged in the left-right direction relative to the first panel 40.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first cam 66 has a generally cylindrical bearing portion 72 into which the shaft 64 is inserted, a claw portion 70 that extends radially from the bearing portion 72 on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing portion 72, and a first engagement portion 68 that is formed at one end on one axial side of the bearing portion 72 and has a peak portion 68M and a valley portion 68V aligned in the circumferential direction when viewed from one axial side.

The claw portion 70 hooks onto the hinge mounting portion 44 of the first panel 40, thereby limiting the relative movement between the first cam 66 and the second cam 74.

The peaks 68M of the first engagement portion 68 are portions that protrude from the end of the first engagement portion 68 with an apex on one axial side, and as shown in FIG. 9(B), four peaks 68M are formed in a line at equal intervals around the circumference of the first engagement portion 68.

In addition, having a peak refers to a shape in which, when the peak 68M of the first engagement portion 68 is viewed in the circumferential direction, one point protrudes the most, and on both sides of that point, the amount of protrusion to one side in the axial direction decreases as they move away from each other in the circumferential direction.

The valley portion 68V of the first engagement portion 68 is a portion formed between the peak portion 68M of the first engagement portion 68 and the other peak portions 68M arranged in the circumferential direction, and is recessed symmetrically toward the other axial side with respect to the protruding shape of the peak portion 68M.

As shown in FIG. 10, the second cam 74 has a second engagement portion 76 and an attachment portion 78 formed on the surface opposite the second engagement portion 76.

The second engagement portion 76 is a portion that engages with the first engagement portion 68 of the first cam 66, and has a peak portion 76M that protrudes from the second cam 74 and engages with a valley portion 68V of the first engagement portion 68, and a valley portion 76V that is formed between the peak portion 76M of the second engagement portion 76 and another peak portion 76M and engages with the peak portion 68M of the first engagement portion 68.

The mounting portion 78 can be attached to the side wall 22 of the storage section at the portion opposite the second engagement portion 76.

The mounting portion 78 may be attached to the side wall 22 in any manner, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, it is accommodated and fixed in a side wall accommodation portion formed on the inner front surface of the side wall 22. This side wall accommodation portion is composed of the tension portion 36 and a protrusion 22P that is disposed rearwardly from the tension portion 36 and protrudes from the side wall 22 and extends in the vertical direction. The mounting portion 78 is maintained accommodated in the side wall accommodation portion by receiving the biasing force of the cam biasing member 62. In addition, the mounting portion 78 is restricted in its movement in the front-rear direction and rotation by contacting the tension portion 36 with the protrusion 22P. The mounting portion 78 has a mounting portion inclined surface 78S (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 10B) that inclines inward in the left-right direction as it moves from the front to the rear at the portion facing the protrusion 22P.

The first cam 66 and the second cam 74 may be made of any material that is rigid enough not to easily deform.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cam biasing member 62 is, for example, a compression spring, one end of which is fixed to the first panel 40, and the other end of which biases the first cam 66 in one axial direction.

In FIG. 8, the hinge mechanism 60 is explained by cutting away a portion of the right side of the first panel 40, but the left side of the first panel 40 is symmetrical to the right side of the first panel 40. That is, the shaft 64, the cam biasing member 62, the first cam 66, and the second cam 74 are provided in pairs on the left and right.

(Rotation of the first panel 40 in the standing direction S1)
Next, how the first panel 40 of this embodiment rotates from the reclined position to the upright position and how the second panel 50 changes from the folded state to the unfolded state will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 as appropriate.

Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating how the first panel 40 of this embodiment rotates from a reclined position to an upright position, and how the second panel 50 changes from a folded state to an unfolded state.

Figure 12 is a diagram showing the operation of one side of the hinge mechanism 60 when the first panel 40 of this embodiment rotates from the reclined position to the upright position, with the first panel 40 omitted.

Note that in FIG. 12, only the right-side hinge mechanism 60 of the present embodiment is shown, but the left-side hinge mechanism 60 operates in the same manner.

First, as shown in FIG. 11(A), when the first panel 40 is in a tilted state, the second panel 50 is folded between the first panel 40 and the bottom plate 24.

Also, as shown in FIG. 12(A), the first cam 66 is biased outward in the left-right direction by the cam biasing member 62, so that the peak 68M of the first engagement portion 68 and the valley 76V of the second engagement portion 76, and the valley 68V of the first engagement portion 68 and the peak 76M of the second engagement portion 76, remain engaged.

In this state, the user rotates the first panel 40 into the standing direction S1.

As shown in FIG. 11B, while the first panel 40 is rotating from the reclined state to the upright state, the second panel 50 transitions from the folded state to the unfolded state in conjunction with the rotation of the first panel 40 because the panel biasing member 82 biases the second panel 50 in the unfolding direction D1.

As shown in FIG. 12(B), the first cam 66 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the first panel 40, so that the top of the peak 68M of the first engagement portion 68 and the depression of the valley 76V of the second engagement portion 76, and the depression of the valley 68V of the first engagement portion 68 and the top of the peak 76M of the second engagement portion 76 are misaligned in the circumferential direction.

In addition, in this state, the peak 68M of the first engagement portion 68 moves toward the peak of the peak 76M of the second engagement portion 76, so that the first cam 66 moves toward the other axial side while being biased by the cam biasing member 62.

Here, if the peak 68M of the first engagement portion 68 does not exceed the apex of the peak 76M of the second engagement portion 76, the urging force of the cam urging member 62 urges it back to a position where the peak 68M of the first engagement portion 68 engages with the valley 76V of the second engagement portion 76.

In other words, when the peak 68M of the first engagement portion 68 does not exceed the apex of the peak 76M of the second engagement portion 76, the first cam 66 is biased in the tilt direction S2 following the shape of the peak 76M of the second engagement portion 76 on the tilt direction S2 side, and the first panel 40 is biased in the tilt direction S2.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12(B), when the first panel 40 is rotated approximately 45°, the top of the ridge 68M of the first engagement portion 68 is in a position where it butts against the top of the ridge 76M of the second engagement portion 76.

When the top of the peak 68M of the first engagement portion 68 exceeds the top of the peak 76M of the second engagement portion 76 in the standing direction S1 of the first panel 40, the peak 68M of the first engagement portion 68 is biased in a direction to engage with the adjacent valley portion 76V in the standing direction S1 relative to the valley portion 76V with which it was engaged when the first panel 40 was tilted.

In other words, when the top of the peak 68M of the first engagement portion 68 exceeds the top of the peak 76M of the second engagement portion 76, the first cam 66 is biased in the standing direction S1 following the shape of the peak 76M of the second engagement portion 76 on the standing direction S1 side, so that the first panel 40 is biased in the standing direction S1.

As shown in FIG. 11(C), when the first panel 40 has been rotated to the upright position, the second panel 50 is rotated by the panel biasing member 82 until the lower edge 52U of the extension portion 52 abuts against the side wall 22 via the cushion material 54.

In other words, when the first panel 40 is in the upright position, the second panel 50 rotates to the deployed position.

Also, as shown in FIG. 12(C), the peaks 68M of the first engagement portion 68 engage with the valleys 76V adjacent in the standing direction S1 to the valleys 76V that engaged with the first cam 66 when the first panel 40 was tilted.

In this way, the first cam 66 is biased outward in the left-right direction by the cam biasing member 62, so that the first panel 40 remains in an upright state.

In this way, by rotating the first panel 40 from a reclined state to an upright state, the second panel 50 transitions from a folded state to an unfolded state and maintains that state, while the first panel 40 remains in the upright state.

(Rotation of the first panel 40 in the tilt direction S2)
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 to 15, the storage device 10 of this embodiment has a guide portion 28 on the inside in the left-right direction and at a position in contact with the sliding surface 58 of the second panel 50.

The guided portion 56 of the second panel 50 and the guide portion 28 provided on the side wall 22 are an example of the "guide mechanism" of the storage device 10 of this embodiment.

Figure 13 shows the second panel 50 and guide portion 28 of this embodiment cut away from above.

As shown in FIG. 13, the guide portion 28 is an inclined surface 30 that inclines toward the center in the left-right direction, i.e., toward the center of the rotation axis of the first panel 40, as it moves from the front to the rear of the side wall 22 in a plan view, i.e., in the direction away from the rotation axis of the first panel 40, and is provided on the rear side of the guided surface of the second panel 50 when the first panel 40 is upright and the second panel 50 is unfolded.

As a result, the guide portion 28 comes into sliding contact with the sliding surface 58 of the second panel 50 when the first panel 40 is between the angle when it is unfolded and the angle when it is tilted.

It is desirable that the guide portion 28 also slopes toward the center in the left-right direction as it moves from the top to the bottom of the side wall 22.

Figure 14 shows the first panel 40 of this embodiment in an upright position and the second panel 50 in an unfolded position.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the second panel 50 is unfolded, the guide portion 28 is located rearward and below the guided portion 56.

In addition, when the first panel 40 is rotated slightly in the tilt direction S2, the sliding surface 58 of the second panel 50 slides against the inclined surface 30 of the guide portion 28.

As shown in FIG. 15, when the sliding surface 58 of the second panel 50 is in sliding contact with the inclined surface 30 of the guide portion 28, the second panel 50 rotates following the inclined surface 30 of the guide portion 28.

In other words, the sliding surface 58 comes into sliding contact with the inclined surface 30 of the guide portion 28, causing the second panel 50 to rotate in the folding direction D2.

Furthermore, by further rotating the first panel 40 in the tilt direction S2, the lower edge 52U of the second panel 50 comes into contact with the bottom plate 24, so that the second panel 50 further rotates in the folding direction.

Then, by rotating the second panel 50 in the folding direction and rotating the first panel 40 in the tilting direction S2, the second panel 50 is folded so as to be sandwiched between the first panel 40 and the bottom plate 24, and the first panel 40 is in a tilted state as shown in FIG. 11 (A).

(effect)
The effects of the storage device 10 of this embodiment will be described below.

In the storage device 10 of this embodiment, when the first panel 40 is rotated from the tilted position to the upright position, the second panel 50, which is biased by the biasing member, is guided by the guide mechanism (the guided portion 26 and the guide portion 28) and rotates to the unfolded position. Also, when the first panel 40 is rotated from the upright position to the tilted position, the second panel 50 is guided by the guide mechanism and rotates to the folded position against the biasing force of the biasing member.

Therefore, according to the storage device 10 of this embodiment, the second panel 50 rotates in conjunction with the rotational movement of the first panel 40, so that the first panel 40 and the second panel 50 can be opened with a simple operation compared to a configuration in which the rotational movement of the first panel 40 and the second panel 50 are independent, making it easier to use.

In addition, in the storage device 10 of this embodiment, the guide portion 28 is an inclined surface 30 that is inclined toward the center of the rotation axis of the first panel (in other words, toward the inside in the left-right direction), so that when the first panel 40 rotates to the tilted position, the second panel 50 is guided by the inclined surface 30 and rotates to the folded position.

Therefore, according to the storage device 10 of this embodiment, when the first panel 40 is rotated to the tilted position, the second panel 50 can be rotated smoothly.

In addition, in the storage device 10 of this embodiment, since the storage section 20 has a side wall 22, the rotation of the second panel 50 is restricted when the first panel 40 is in an upright position. In addition, since the storage section 20 has a side wall 22, the first panel 40 can be connected to the side wall 22, and the guide portion 28 can be provided on the side wall 22.

Therefore, according to the storage device 10 of this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the storage device 10.

In addition, in the storage device 10 of this embodiment, the hinge mechanism 60 has a first cam 66 and a second cam 74, and when the first panel 40 is at an angle between the angle of the upright position and the angle of the tilted position, the tops formed on the first cam 66 and the second cam 74 abut against each other. Therefore, when the first panel 40 is at an angle between the upright and tilted positions, the first cam 66 is biased outward in the left-right direction, and the upright and tilted positions of the first panel 40 are maintained.

Therefore, according to the storage device 10 of this embodiment, the first panel 40 can maintain an upright position and a tilted position. When the first panel 40 is rotated to the upright position, the user can tactilely know that the first panel 40 has rotated to the upright position, and when the first panel 40 is rotated to the tilted position, the user can tactilely know that the first panel 40 has rotated to the tilted position.

In addition, in the storage device 10 of this embodiment, the second panel 50 is attached to both sides of the first panel 40, and the width of the second panel 50 is less than half the width of the first panel 40.

Therefore, according to the storage device 10 of this embodiment, since the width of the second panel 50 is less than half the width of the first panel 40, it is possible to prevent the second panels 50 from interfering with each other when they rotate.

In addition, in the storage device 10 of this embodiment, the rotation axis direction of the second panel 50 is perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the first panel 40.

Therefore, according to the storage device 10 of this embodiment, since the rotation axis direction of the second panel 50 is perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the first panel 40, it is easier to hold items between the first panel 40 and the second panel 50 compared to, for example, a configuration in which the rotation axis direction of the second panel 50 intersects with the rotation axis direction of the first panel 40.

In addition, in the storage device 10 of this embodiment, a cushioning material 54 that abuts against the side wall 22 is attached to the lower edge 52U of the expansion portion 52 of the second panel 50 when the second panel 50 is in the deployed position.

Therefore, according to the storage device 10 of this embodiment, the second panel 50 abuts against the side wall 22 at the lower edge 52U via the cushioning material 54, so damage to the second panel 50 and the side wall 22 can be suppressed compared to when the second panel 50 abuts directly against the side wall 22.

In addition, in the storage device 10 of this embodiment, an inclined portion 42 is provided at the end of the first panel 40 opposite the side where it is attached to the storage section 20, and the inclined portion 42 is inclined in the direction in which the first panel 40 tilts.

For this reason, in the storage device 10 of this embodiment, when the first panel 40 is in an upright state and a vertical force is applied to the first panel 40 from above by a falling object or the like, a portion of the force applied in the vertical direction is converted by the inclined portion 42 of the first panel 40 into a force that rotates the first panel 40 in a tilting direction. In other words, the force applied in the vertical direction to the first panel 40 is dispersed by the inclined portion 42.

Therefore, according to the storage device 10 of this embodiment, when a vertical force is applied to the first panel 40 from above by a falling object or the like, the force applied in the vertical direction is dispersed by the inclined portion 42 of the first panel 40, so that the first panel 40 can be prevented from being damaged.

In addition, in the storage device 10 of this embodiment, the mounting portion 78 is provided with a mounting portion inclined surface 78S, and the side wall 22 is provided with a protrusion 22P facing the mounting portion inclined surface 78S. Here, when the first panel 40 is in an upright state and a force is applied to further rotate the first panel 40 in the upright direction S1, the mounting portion inclined surface 78S guides the second cam 74 inward in the left-right direction, and the cam biasing member 62 is compressed. Then, when the cam biasing member 62 is compressed by a predetermined amount, the mounting portion 78 (mounting portion inclined surface 78S) overcomes the protrusion 22P. Therefore, in the storage device 10 of this embodiment, when the first panel 40 is in an upright state and a force is applied to further rotate the first panel 40 in the upright direction S1, the hinge mechanism 60 comes off the side wall 22, and damage to the first panel 40 can be suppressed.

In addition, in the storage device 10 of this embodiment, the storage section 20 is configured to be movable in the direction of being pulled out from under the seat 90.

Therefore, according to the storage device 10 of this embodiment, by pulling out the storage section 20 from under the seat 90 and then expanding the first panel 40 and the second panel 50, it is possible to place a large item or a large number of small items in the storage section 20.

As described above, the storage device 10 disclosed herein can improve user convenience and provide a comfortable environment, which is a universal issue.

(Modification)
Modifications of the storage device 10 of this embodiment will be described below.

In the above description, the guide mechanism is the guide portion 28 provided on the side wall 22 and the guided portion 56 formed on the second panel 50, but the mechanism is not limited to the configuration described above as long as it rotates the unfolded second panel 50 in the folding direction D2.

In the above description, the guide portion 28 has an inclined surface 30, but as long as it can rotate the second panel 50 in the rotational direction by sliding against the guided portion 56, it is not limited to an inclined surface 30 and may simply be bulging, for example.

In the above description, the storage section 20 has side panels, but it may not have side panels and instead have stoppers protruding vertically on both the left and right sides of the bottom panel 24 to stop the rotation of the second panel 50.

In the above description, the first panel 40 is rotatable by the hinge mechanism 60, but the hinge mechanism 60 does not have to be structured to maintain the upright state. For example, the upright state of the first panel 40 may be maintained by using a mechanism for maintaining another posture, such as a stopper.

In the above description, the second panel 50 has a symmetrical shape, but the shapes of the left and right second panels 50 may be different, or only one of the left and right second panels 50 may be used.

Even in this case, the amount of luggage that can be stored in the storage section 20 can be increased by unfolding the second panel 50.

In addition, in the above description, the left and right second panels 50 rotate simultaneously, but this is not limited thereto, and the timing at which the second panel 50 rotates may be made different by making the front-to-rear positions of the guide portions 28 different for the left and right guide portions 28. In this case, by making the width of the left and right second panels 50 at least half the width of the first panel 40, the left and right panels can be folded so that they overlap each other when the second panel 50 is folded.

In this case, the length of the second panel 50 can be made longer than half the length of the first panel 40 in the left-right direction, so the length by which the storage device 10 can be pulled out from under the seat 90 can be made longer than half the length of the first panel 40, and the amount of luggage that can be placed in the storage section 20 can be increased.

In the above description, the cushioning material 54 is attached to the lower edge 52U of the second panel 50, but if the material strength of the second panel 50 and the side wall 22 is sufficiently high, the cushioning material 54 does not need to be provided.

In the above description, the first panel 40 has an inclined portion 42, but it may be a flat member that does not have an inclined portion 42.

In the above description, the first panel 40 is attached to the side wall 22 via a hinge mechanism 60, but this is not limited thereto. The first panel 40 may be attached to bearings that protrude vertically on both sides of the front of the bottom plate 24.

In addition, in the above description, the mounting portion 78 of the second cam 74 is detachable from the side wall 22, but this is not limited thereto and may be fixed.

In addition, in the above description, the storage device 10 of this embodiment is described as being pulled out from under the seat 90 for use, but this is not limited thereto, and it may also be used by lifting the seat surface of the seat 90.

One embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the attached drawings. However, it is clear that a person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which this disclosure pertains can conceive of various modifications and applications within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of this disclosure.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 10 Storage device 20 Storage section 22 Side wall 24 Bottom plate 28 Guide section 30 Inclined surface 40 First panel 42 Inclined section 44 Hinge mounting section 50 Second panel 50A Right side second panel 50B Left side second panel 52 Extension section 52U Lower edge section 54 Cushioning material 56 Guided section 58 Sliding surface 60 Hinge mechanism 62 Cam biasing member 64 Shaft 66 First cam 68 First engagement section 70 Claw section 72 Bearing section 74 Second cam 76 Second engagement section 78 Mounting section 80 Deployment mechanism 82 Panel biasing member 90 Seat D1 Deployment direction D2 Folding direction S1 Standing direction S2 Tilt direction

Claims (9)

A storage section disposed under a seat of the vehicle and in which items are placed;
A first panel attached to the storage section and rotatably movable between a tilted position tilted relative to the storage section and an upright position;
a second panel attached to a side portion of the first panel and rotatably movable between a folded position in which the second panel is folded relative to the first panel and an unfolded position in which the second panel is unfolded;
a panel biasing member that biases the second panel from the folded position toward the unfolded position;
a guide mechanism that guides the second panel to the unfolded position when the first panel rotates to the standing position and guides the second panel to the folded position when the first panel rotates to the reclined position;
A storage device comprising: the guide mechanism includes a guide portion provided in the storage portion and a guided portion provided on the second panel,
the guide portion is an inclined surface that is inclined toward a center of the rotation axis as it extends in a direction away from the rotation axis of the first panel in a plan view,
The guided portion slides on the inclined surface when the first panel is rotated.
The storage device according to claim 1 . The storage section has a side wall rising from an end of the first panel in the rotation axis direction,
the first panel is attached to the side wall;
The guide portion is provided on the side wall.
The storage device according to claim 2. The first panel is rotatably connected to the storage section by a hinge mechanism,
The hinge mechanism includes:
A shaft provided on the first panel;
A first cam disposed on an outer periphery of the shaft and movable along the shaft;
a second cam that is removably attached to the storage portion and engages with the first cam to hold the first panel in the upright position and the reclined position;
a cam biasing member that biases the first cam toward the second cam;
The storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising: the second panel is attached to each of both sides of the first panel,
5. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the width of the second panel is less than or equal to half the width of the first panel. The storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rotation axis direction of the second panel is perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the first panel. A cushioning material is attached to the second panel,
The storage device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, which relies on claim 3, wherein the second panel abuts against the side wall via the cushion material when the second panel is in the deployed position. The storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an inclined portion is provided at the end of the first panel opposite the side attached to the storage section, the inclination of the first panel being inclined in the direction in which the first panel is tilted. The storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the storage section is configured to be movable in a direction to be pulled out from under the seat.