Cup holder

Abstract

A cup holder mechanism mountable to an armrest of stadium or theater seating operable between a compacted position and an expanded position. The cup holder mechanism comprises a base substantially contoured similar to a portion of the armrest, and provides support for a base of a container when placed thereon. A top member is coupled to the base and has an aperture for receiving the container therein. The top member is movable between the compacted and expanded positions. An intermediate member is coupled between the top member and the base member to provide support for the top member when placed in the expanded position. Also included is a lock for inhibiting displacement of the top member once placed in at least one of the positions. The cup holder mechanism provides support for a spectator's arm on the armrest when placed in the compacted position, while at the same time: providing support for the container when the mechanism is placed in the expanded position.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cup holder for mounting to an armrest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The consumption of beverages while watching an event is a well established past time. Conventional cup holders are used by spectators at sporting venues and other cultural events to hold a beverage cup when not in use. For convenience, these holders are typically mounted to an armrest or upright portion of the spectator's folding chair or seat.

[0003] A variety of cup holder devices have been developed for this purpose. One well-known solution is to place the cup holder on the top surface of an existing armrest. This arrangement provides convenience for the placement of beverage containers, but does not allow the spectator to use the armrest comfortably when the cup holder is not in use. Another solution is to provide a recess in the armrest, deep enough to adequately support the cup when placed therein. Whilst this arrangement does allow the spectator to rest an. arm on the armrest while the cup holder is not in use, the disadvantages are that extensive modification is required to existing armrests to provide such a recess, and that cleaning of the recess can be awkward and time consuming.

[0004] Another example cup holder is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,272 by Thompson et al., which consists of a cup holder portion integrally, attached to a forward end of an arm portion. The arm portion is fastened by straps to the top surface of an existing stadium seat armrest. This arrangement positions the cup holder portion adjacent to the end of the armrest, which restricts the aisle spacing between the end of the arm rest and the next row of seating. This makes it awkward for spectators to walk along the aisle to and from their seats, Another disadvantage is that the use of the cup holder places the beverage in a high traffic area. which increases the risk of spillage. As well, comfortable use of the armrest by the spectator may be interfered with due to protrusion of the straps from the top surface of the arm portion.

[0005] Another cup holder is taught by Goldman in U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,782, which seeks to address the discomfort problem by providing a cup holder device closely fabricated to match the contours of an existing armrest. Goldman's device is securely mounted to the armrest by using unobtrusive fasteners, such as screws or clips. However, Goldman's device also has the disadvantage that the cup holder portion projects into the aisle to interfere with spectator movement.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above-presented disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a cup holder mechanism mountable to an armrest and operable between a collapsed position and a deployed position. The cup holder mechanism comprising a base member engageable with a portion of said armrest to be supported thereby. A top member is coupled to the base member and has an aperture for receiving the container therein. The top member is movable between the collapsed position and the deployed position. An intermediate member is coupled between the top member and the base member, and is employed for supporting the top member when placed in the deployed position. A control mechanism is employed for inhibiting displacement of the top member once placed in at least one of the positions, whereby the deployed position provides support for a side wall of the container when placed in the aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are now described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup holder in a compact state;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cup holder of FIG. I in an expanded state:

[0011] FIG. a is a section 3a-3a view of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3b is a section 3b-23b view of FIG. 2;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a top view of the lock shown in FIG. 7;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a section 5-5 view of FIG. 2;

[0015] FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of FIG. 1; and

[0016] FIG. 7 is a further embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 8 is another embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a top view of the cup holder of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a cup holder mechanism 10 is positioned on an armrest 12 of a chair (not shown). The mechanism 10 includes a base member 14 mounted to the armrest 12, by any conventional fasteners (not shown), such as adhesive or screws, and a top member 16 connected to the base member 14 at one end 18. The top member 16 is connected by an intermediate member 20 to another end 22 of the base member 14. Flexible hinges 24 and 26 are employed to connect the intermediate member 20 to the base member 14 and the top member 16 respectively. The hinges 24, 26 facilitate relative angular displacement between the members 14, 16, 20 to be described below. The top member 16 has an aperture 28, preferably circular, which is employed to position a cup when placed therein. In FIG. 1, the top member 16 and the base member 14 are positioned adjacent to one another in a compact state.

[0020] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the top member 16 is placed in an expanded state with respect to the base 14, when a secondary top portion 30 is extended from a housing 32. The housing 32 is corrected to the base 14 and provides a receptacle for the top portion 30. The portion 30 is connected to the top member 16 by a flexible hinge 34 and is coupled to the housing 32 by a slide mechanism consisting of a pair of extensions 50 positioned in corresponding tracks 52, best seen in FIG. 4. The extensions 50 are movable within the tracks 52 between stops 54 and 56, which are located at either end of the housing 32 shown in ghosted view, Movement of the extensions 50 are controlled by a lock mechanism 36. Activation of the lock mechanism 36 allows the portion 30 to be extended, as is best seen in FIGS. a and 3b.

[0021] The lock mechanism 36 comprises a push button 3 biased by a spring 39, a positioning hole 40 located in the top portion 30, and a corresponding hole 42 in the housing 32. Alignment of the holes 40 and 42 forms a passageway 44, which permits the push button 38 to extend into a biased position extending from the base 14 to a top surface 46 of the housing 32. In this arrangement, the push button 35 restricts extension of the top portion 30 from the housing 32, which maintains the cup holder mechanism 10 in the compact position. Depression of the push button 35 past a bottom surface 47, allows the top portion 30 to be simultaneously extended from the housing 32 in a direction indicated by arrow 45. The extensions 50 are then free to move along the tracks 52, until coming into abutment with stops 54. In this position (FIG. 4), an end face 48 of the portion 30 is positioned adjacent to the push button 38, which allows the push button 38 to extend into the hole 42. The end face 48 is then located between the stops 54 and a side wall 58 of the push button 38, thereby restricting further movement. When the top portion 30 is fully extended from the housing 32, the cup mechanism 10 is placed in the expanded position.

[0022] As best shown in FIG. 5, the cup holder mechanism 10 forms an approximate triangular shaped structure, when placed in the expanded position. A spaced apart relationship between the top member 16 and the base member 14 provides lateral support for a side wall 60 of a container 62, by a ring 66 connected to the top member 16. The base member 14 provides vertical support for a base 64 of the container 62, when placed in the aperture 28. The ring 66 is preferably situated towards an end 65 of the member 16, in order to maximize the distance between member 14, 16, and the lateral stability of the container 62.

[0023] In operation of the cup holder mechanism 10 by a spectator at an event, such as a hockey game or movie, the spectator can use the cup holder 10 as an armrest when the holder 10 is placed in the compact position. Comfort of the spectator is facilitated by the low profile of the cup mechanism 10 in relation to the armrest 12. At anytime during the event the spectator can place the cup mechanism 10 in the expanded state, such as when the spectator has obtained a container of food or drink. In this case, the spectator depresses the surface 39 of the push button 38 past the bottom surface 47, while simultaneously extending the top portion 30 from the housing 32. Flexure of the hinges 24, 26, and 34 allow the members 14 and 30 to form the sides of an approximate triangular structure, with respect, to the base member 14 or armrest 12. The spectator can then place the container 62 into the aperture 28. Support of the side wall 60 is provided by the ring 66 and of the container base 64 by the base member 14.

[0024] The spectator can return the cup mechanism 10 to he compact position by once again depressing the surface 39 of the push button 38 past the bottom surface 47, while simultaneously retracting the portion 30 into the housing 32. Once the holes 40, 42 are aligned to form the passageway 44, the push button 38 extends between the base member 14 and the top surface 46 of the housing 32 into the biased position. This locks the cup mechanism 10 in the compact position.

[0025] The aperture 28 is preferably situated on the armrest 12 between the ends 18 and 22, in order to place the container 62 away from the aisle between rows of seating. When the mechanism 10 is placed in the compacted position, the top member 16 is preferably situated adjacent to the base member 14. Advertising indicia or other information 67 can be displayed on any visible surface of the cup mechanism 10, such as the top member 16 or the intermediate member 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cup mechanism 10 is made of a resilient plastic material, but other materials such as metal or fiberglass could also be used if desired. The ring 66 can also have a plurality of conventional inward depending flexible fingers (not shown), in order to accommodate containers 62 of various widths. The ring 66 and aperture 28 can also be of a quadrilateral shape, if desired.

[0026] Further embodiments of the cup holder 10 are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein like numerals with a prefix 1 or 2 refer to similar elements to those of FIG. 1. Holders 110 and 210 have an additional feature of an arcuate end 68. The arcuate end 68 can be used to provide the spectator with additional comfort while using the armrest 112. Also shown is a pair of side walls 70, connected to the top member 116, which can provide additional rigidity to the member 116 if desired. Rigidity of the end 68 can also be provided by a plurality of ribs 72, which are fastened to the base 114.

[0027] Thickened portions 74 of the top member 216 can also be employed to provide rigidity and strength to the member 216, if desired. It should be noted that both holders 110, 210 do not have a base 114, 214 that covers the top of the armrest 112, 212. This feature allows a slimmer design to be realized than that of the holder 10 of FIG. 1.

[0028] Another embodiment of a cup holder 310 is shown in FIG. 5. A pair of resilient snap clips 76 are used to retain the ring 366 adjacent to the base 314 or armrest 312. when the cupholder 310 is placed in the collapsed state. Deployment of the clips 76 towards the centre of the ring 366 enables the cup holder 310 to be placed in the deployed state. A pair of springs 78 can be used to bias the extensions 350 towards the stops 354, when the clips 76 are deployed, thereby facilitating placement of the cup holder 310 in the deployed state as shown in FIG. 9.

[0029] Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A cup holder mechanism mountable to an armrest and operable between a collapsed position and a deployed position, the mechanism comprising: a base member engageable with a portion of said armrest to be supported thereby; a top member coupled to said base member and having an aperture for receiving said container therein, said top member movable between said collapsed position and said deployed position; an intermediate member coupled between said top member and said base member, said intermediate member for supporting said top member when placed in said deployed position; and a control mechanism for inhibiting displacement of said top member once placed in at least one of said positions; wherein said deployed position provides support for a side wail of said container when placed in said aperture

2. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 1, wherein said armrest, said intermediate member, and said top member form an approximate triangular shape when said cup holder mechanism is placed in said deployed position.

3. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 2, wherein said intermediate member is hingedly attached to said top member.

4. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 2, wherein said intermediate member is hingedly attached to said base member.

5. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 1, wherein said top member is contoured to a similar form of said base member.

6. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 5 further including a least one reinforcement member connected to said top member for providing rigidity.

7. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 5, wherein said similar form is substantially planar to provide support for an arm of a spectator when said mechanism is placed in said deployed position.

8. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 7, wherein said portion of said armrest in substantially planar.

9. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said top member is flexible for facilitating operation between said collapsed and said deployed positions.

10. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 1, wherein said aperture is to be positioned somewhat centrally on said armrest.

11. A cup holder according to

claim 1, wherein said aperture is positioned at one end of said top member.

12. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 1, wherein said aperture further comprising a plurality of inwardly depending resilient fingers for accommodating various sized containers.

13. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 1, wherein an end of said base member is arcuate.

14. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 1, wherein a portion of said intermediate member is arcuate.

15. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 1, wherein said control mechanism further comprises a locking member for inhibiting operation of said top member and said intermediate member once placed in said at least one of said positions.

16. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 15, wherein said locking member is resiliently biased.

17. A cup mechanism according to

claim 15, wherein said control mechanism further comprises a housing coupled to said armrest for receiving a portion of said top member.

18. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 17, wherein said housing is positioned at one end of said base member.

19. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 15, wherein a portion of said top sol member is operable within said housing.

20. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 19, wherein said control mechanism controls a position of a portion of said top member operable within said housing.

21. A cup holder mechanism according to

claim 1 further comprising indicia located on said top member for conveying predetermined information to surrounding spectators.

22. A cup mechanism according to

claim 1 further comprising indicia located on said intermediate member for conveying predetermined information to surrounding spectators.