Slot device
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
InventorsYoshinori Ito, Shozo Kito
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A slot device for holding a portable device that communicates with a controller installed in a vehicle. The slot device includes a retainer for retaining the portable device, a shutter for closing the retainer, and a spring received in a spring receptacle for urging the shutter to close the retainer. The spring is supported in an inclined state to contact the inner surface of the spring receptacle and prevent vibrations and noise.
Claims16
A slot device for holding a portable device, wherein the portable device is for performing predetermined communication with a controller installed in a vehicle and enabling activation of a drive source, the slot device comprising:
- a retainer for retaining the portable device, the retainer including an opening, through which the portable device is insertable, and an inner bottom surface;
- a shutter, movable in the retainer, for opening and closing the opening of the retainer;
- a guide arranged on the inner bottom surface of the retainer;
- a cylindrical spring receptacle arranged on the shutter facing toward the guide and including an open distal end, an inner bottom surface facing towards the inner bottom surface of the retainer, and an inner circumferential surface extending between the distal end and the inner bottom surface;
- a coil spring including an end supported by the guide and another end supported by the spring receptacle, the coil spring producing urging force for urging the inner bottom surface of the spring receptacle away from the inner bottom surface of the retainer, wherein insertion of the portable device into the retainer moves the shutter in the insertion direction of the portable device against the urging force of the coil spring, and removal of the portable device from the retainer causes the shutter to move to close the opening of the retainer due to the urging force of the coil spring;
- and
- a spring elevation seat arranged on either one of the inner bottom surface of the retainer and the inner bottom surface of the spring receptacle, wherein the spring elevation seat and the associated inner bottom surface on which the spring elevation seat is arranged supports the corresponding end of the coil spring so that the coil spring is inclined relative to the inner bottom surface on which the spring elevation seat is arranged and the coil spring contacts the inner circumferential surface of the spring receptacle.
A slot device for holding a portable device, wherein the portable device is for performing predetermined communication with a controller installed in a vehicle and enabling activation of a drive source, the slot device comprising:
- a retainer for retaining the portable device, the retainer including an opening, through which the portable device is insertable, and an inner bottom surface;
- a shutter, movable in the retainer, for opening and closing the opening of the retainer;
- a guide arranged on the inner bottom surface of the retainer and including a plurality of fins;
- a cylindrical spring receptacle arranged on the shutter facing toward the guide and including an open distal end, an inner bottom surface facing towards the inner bottom surface of the retainer, and an inner circumferential surface extending between the distal end and the inner bottom surface;
- a coil spring including an end supported by the guide and another end supported by the spring receptacle, the fins of the guide being formed to restrict rotation of the coil spring, and the coil spring producing urging force for urging the inner bottom surface of the spring receptacle away from the inner bottom surface of the retainer, wherein insertion of the portable device into the retainer moves the shutter in the insertion direction of the portable device against the urging force of the coil spring, and removal of the portable device from the retainer causes the shutter to move to close the opening of the retainer due to the urging force of the coil spring;
- and
- a first spring elevation seat, arranged on the inner bottom surface of the retainer, for partially lifting the end of the coil spring supported by the guide;
- and
- a second spring elevation seat, arranged on the inner bottom surface of the spring receptacle, for partially lifting the end of the coil spring supported by the spring receptacle, wherein the first spring elevation seat and the second spring elevation seat incline the associated ends of the coil spring relative to the corresponding inner bottom surfaces so that the coil spring contacts the inner circumferential surface of the spring receptacle, and the first spring elevation seat and the second spring elevation seat are arranged so as not to face toward each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.