DEPLOYABLE CUP HOLDER
A selectively deployable cup holder assembly comprises a telescoping bezel assembly having a plurality of supports which are operably coupled to a housing in a slideably coupled arrangement, such that the telescoping bezel assembly is movable between deployed and stowed positions relative to the housing, such that the vehicle occupant can deploy the telescoping bezel assembly to provide extended vertical support for an item to be stored in a cup holder assembly.
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The present invention generally relates to a deployable cup holder assembly for use within a vehicle interior and, more particularly, to a deployable cup holder assembly having a housing operably coupled to a deployable telescoping bezel assembly, wherein the bezel is movable between deployed and stowed positions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs automotive interior styling progresses, there has been an increased desire for unique and stylish solutions for cup holder assemblies which are versatile to meet the unique needs of the vehicle occupant. For example, some vehicle consoles are located in high positions relative to the driver's or passenger's seated position and other vehicle consoles are located in lower positions. Where the console surface is low, there may be a desire for a cup holder to rise from the top finished surface of the console. By integrating the cup holder functional features into a retractable assembly disposed on the top finished panel of the console, a clean and finished interior appearance can be provided while having a cup holder function when the vehicle occupant so desires.
The present invention provides a low cost, small cup holder or tray with a selectively deployable telescoping bezel assembly which is versatile in that it can be raised to create a full size cup holder capable of supporting large beverage containers. When support for a large beverage container, or other like item, is no longer needed, the telescoping bezel assembly can be lowered to a stowed condition for a low profile appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the present invention includes a deployable cup holder assembly comprising a housing and a telescoping bezel assembly, wherein the telescoping bezel assembly is movable between a deployed position and a stowed position relative to the housing. The telescoping bezel assembly further comprises a bezel operably coupled to a plurality of support members which are further coupled to the housing. The bezel is supported by the support members in the deployed position. The deployable cup holder assembly further comprises at least one latching mechanism operably coupled to the support members and the housing.
Another aspect of the present invention includes a deployable cup holder assembly comprising a housing having a storage compartment and a rim disposed thereon. The cup holder assembly further comprises a telescoping bezel assembly having at least one support member, wherein the support member is slideably received in at least one aperture disposed on the rim of the housing. The telescoping bezel assembly is vertically movable between deployed and stowed positions relative to the housing. The deployable cup holder assembly further comprises a dampening mechanism adapted to dampen vertical movement of a bezel assembly.
Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a deployable cup holder assembly comprising a stationary housing coupled to a vehicle interior. The cup holder assembly further comprises a telescoping bezel assembly operably coupled to the housing by a plurality of supports, which are slideably received in the housing. The telescoping bezel assembly is movable between a deployed position and a stowed position relative to the housing, thereby creating a slideably coupled arrangement between the housing and the telescoping bezel assembly. The bezel assembly and supports define a cage assembly having spaces disposed between adjacent supports of the plurality of supports. The deployable cup holder assembly further comprises at least one latching mechanism coupled to the supports in the housing for retaining the bezel in both the deployed and stowed positions.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
For the purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
Referring to
The deployable cup holder assembly 10 further comprises a telescoping bezel assembly 30 having a plurality of support members 34 and a bezel 32, which is shown in
Referring now to
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Referring now to the embodiment shown in
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The telescoping bezel assembly 30, defining a cage-like configuration in the deployed position (
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention. Specifically, the circular shape of the cup holder shown in the embodiments disclosed herein is for exemplary purposes only and other shapes can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
Claims
1. A deployable cup holder assembly, comprising:
- a housing;
- a telescoping bezel assembly moveable between a deployed position and a stowed position relative to the housing, comprising; a bezel operably coupled a plurality of support members which are further coupled to the housing, wherein the bezel is supported by the support members in the deployed position; and
- at least one latching mechanism operably coupled to the support members and the housing.
2. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- the telescoping bezel assembly moves only along a vertical axis of movement relative to the housing between the deployed position and the stowed position.
3. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- the housing comprises a storage compartment and a rim disposed about an upper portion of the storage compartment, wherein the rim further comprises an upper side and lower side with apertures extending therethrough for slideably receiving the support members to provide a slideably coupled arrangement between the telescoping bezel assembly and the housing.
4. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 3, wherein:
- the support members are elongate support members having an elongate body portion including upper ends, lower ends and sides walls, wherein the lower ends include retainment members that extend outwardly from the support members to engage the lower side of the rim of the housing to retain the telescoping bezel assembly in the slideably coupled arrangement with the housing.
5. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
- the at least one latching mechanism comprises; upper and lower detents disposed on the side walls of the support members; and latching clips disposed on the lower side of the rim of the housing having engagement members adapted to engage the upper or lower detents of the support members to retain the telescoping bezel assembly in either the stowed position or the deployed position.
6. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 5, wherein:
- the latching clips are resilient latching clips that can deform to disengage either the upper or lower detents of the support members, and further wherein the latching clips are biased towards an engaged position with either the upper or lower detents when aligned therewith.
7. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 6, wherein:
- the latching clips define a dampening mechanism by imparting a frictional force on the side walls of the support members as the telescoping bezel assembly moves between the stowed and deployed positions.
8. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 3, including:
- connecting members disposed on the lower side of the rim of the housing adapted to retain the housing in a vehicle interior.
9. A deployable cup holder assembly, comprising:
- a housing having a storage compartment and a rim disposed thereon;
- a telescoping bezel assembly having at least one support member, wherein the support member is slideably received in at least one aperture disposed on the rim of the housing, and further wherein the bezel assembly is vertically movable between deployed and stowed positions; and
- a dampening mechanism adapted to dampen vertical movement of the bezel assembly.
10. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 9, wherein:
- the at least one support member is an elongate support member having an elongate body portion including sides walls, an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end includes a retainment member that extends outwardly from the support member to engage a lower side of the rim of the housing to retain the telescoping bezel in a slideably coupled arrangement with the housing.
11. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 10, wherein:
- the dampening mechanism includes at least one resilient latching clip disposed on the lower side of the rim of the housing which imparts a frictional force on a side wall of the at least one support member during vertical movement of the telescoping bezel assembly.
12. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 11, including:
- a latching mechanism comprising an engagement member disposed on the at least one resilient latching clip adapted to engage upper and lower detents disposed on the side wall of the at least one support member, such that the engagement member will engage the upper detents when the telescoping bezel assembly is in the stowed position and engage the lower detents when the telescoping bezel assembly is in the deployed position.
13. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 12, wherein:
- the at least one resilient latching clip is biased towards an engaged position with either the upper or lower detents.
14. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 9, including:
- connecting members disposed on the lower side of the rim of the housing adapted to retain the housing in a vehicle interior.
15. A deployable cup holder assembly, comprising:
- a stationary housing coupled to a vehicle interior;
- a telescoping bezel assembly operably coupled to the housing by a plurality of supports slideably received in the housing, wherein the telescoping bezel assembly is moveable between a deployed position and a stowed position relative to the housing thereby creating a slideably coupled arrangement between the housing and telescoping bezel assembly, and further wherein the bezel assembly and supports define a cage assembly having spaces disposed between the plurality of supports; and
- at least one latching mechanism coupled to the supports and the housing for retaining the bezel in both the deployed and stowed positions.
16. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 15, wherein:
- the housing comprises a storage compartment and a rim disposed about an upper portion of the storage compartment, wherein the rim further comprises an upper side and lower side with a plurality of apertures extending therethrough for slideably receiving the plurality of support members.
17. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 16, wherein:
- the plurality of support members comprises elongate support members having an elongate body portion including upper ends, lower ends and sides walls, wherein the lower ends include retainment members that extend outwardly from the support members to engage the lower side of the rim of the housing to retain the telescoping bezel assembly in the slideably coupled arrangement with the housing.
18. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 17, wherein:
- the at least one latching mechanism comprises; upper and lower detents disposed on the side walls of the support members; and latching clips disposed on the lower side of the rim of the housing having engagement members adapted to engage the upper or lower detents of the support members to retain the telescoping bezel assembly in either the stowed position or the deployed position.
19. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 18, wherein:
- the latching clips are resilient latching clips that define a dampening mechanism by imparting a frictional force on the side walls of the plurality of support members as the telescoping bezel assembly moves between the stowed and deployed positions.
20. A deployable cup holder as set forth in claim 15, wherein:
- the telescoping bezel assembly moves only along a vertical axis of movement relative to the housing between the deployed position and the stowed position.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 5, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 10, 2013
Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Dearborn, MI)
Inventors: Raymond Anthony Oldani (Canton, MI), Scott Simon (Dexter, MI)
Application Number: 13/440,288