Operating mechanism of movable member, and automobile storage apparatus

• US 20060265864A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Inventors: Fukuo, Michihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/700
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/32 for console boxes, e.g. between passenger seats
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/022 Released by pushing in the closing direction
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/619 using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/22 Locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/221 Touch latches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/232 by automatically acting means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3013 during manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/538 Interior lids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53687 by rotation of work part

Abstract

An operation mechanism attaches a movable member to a main body to be rotatable between a first position and a second position. The movable member is held in the first position by a locking device. The operation mechanism includes a base attached to the main body, a contact portion attached to the movable member, and a coil spring having one end fixed to the base, and the other end attached to the contact portion for urging the movable member in the first position toward the second position. A transfer track for the contact portion is formed at the base. By the transfer track, after the movable member in the first position is moved to a predetermined position by a force accumulated on the spring, when the movable member is pushed to the second position, the spring stores a force from the predetermined position to the second position.

Claims

1. Operation mechanism for attaching a movable member to a main body rotatably between a first position and a second position, and holding the movable member in the first position by locking means, comprising:

a base attached to the main body,

a contact portion attached to the movable member,

a coil spring having one end fixed to the base, and the other end attached to the contact portion for urging the movable member in the first position toward the second position, and

a transfer track for the contact portion formed at the base, said transfer track being arranged to move the contact portion such that after the movable member in the first position is moved to a predetermined position by a force accumulated on the spring, when the movable member is pushed to the second position, the spring stores a force from the predetermined position to the second position.

2. Operation mechanism according to claim 1, wherein

said transfer track comprises a guide member having a guide face extending along an arc of an imaginary circle,

said contact portion comprising a shaft, and a rolling member provided on the shaft to rotate and travel along the guide face, and

said other end of the coil spring is arranged to support the rolling member such that a circumferential face of the rolling member is always pressed against the guide face of the guiding member, and when the rolling member is situated at a beginning of the guide face, the shaft is always pressed to allow the rolling member to contact the guide face and the spring stores an urging force to move the rolling member toward a final end of the guide face.

3. Operation mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said base includes a through-bore for allowing the shaft to pass therethrough, and a side face of the through-bore facing the guide face of the guiding members, said side face forming a bearing face of the shaft and being curved in accordance with curvature of the guide face, and a pitch between the bearing face and the guide face being substantially equal to radius of the rolling member.

4. Operation mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising a damper apparatus attached to the rolling member for braking rotation of the movable member.

5. Operation mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said through-bore includes a first end as the beginning for placing the shaft when the movable member is in the first position, a second end for placing the shaft when the movable member is in the second position, and a middle position between the first and second ends, said middle position being located in a horizontal direction furthest away from a center of the imaginary circle.

6. Operation mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the other end of the coil spring pushes the shaft from the first end to the middle position, and when the shaft is pushed further to the second end, the coil spring stores a force to push the shaft back to the middle position.

7. An automobile storage apparatus comprising a storage member as the main body, a lid member as the movable member for closing the opening of the storage member in the first position, and the operating mechanisms according to claim 1 for connecting the lid member to the storage member.