Abstract: A beverage container holder has a housing which encases a slidable frame. The frame has an ashtray disposed within a central open area and a pair of arms pivotably attached to the frame to either side of the ashtray. The frame is movable between a retracted and an extended position and the pair of arms are pivotable from an open position to a closed position. When the frame is in its extended position, access to the ashtray is provided and one or both of the arms can be moved from their closed position to their open position. In their open position, each arm in conjunction with the frame, define a partially circular aperture to accommodate a beverage container. In one embodiment, a drawer is provided in the housing for keeping coins, pens, pencils, paper or the like. In another embodiment, a drawer is provided in the frame.

Abstract: A bilateral beverage container (2) mounts within a hinged vehicle armrest (4). The container has an upper container housing (22), a lower container housing (26) and a hinged game surface (24) therebetween suitable for playing board games upon. The upper container housing includes a flap (34) that defines a compartment suitable for storing writing paper, magazines and the like. The lower container housing includes fixed and user-definable compartments (48, 50) for storing beverage containers (76), game pieces and other objects, and hinged lids (60) to cover the fixed compartments. The lower container housing includes a hinged bilateral tray (62) with openings (68) sized to receive beverage containers. The bilateral tray holds beverage containers in both a stowed position, overlying the hinged lids covering the fixed compartments, and in a deployed position, spaced apart from the lower container housing.

Abstract: A generic beverage container holder for use within a vehicle includes a housing mountable beneath the dashboard and a frame slidably mounted to the housing for movement between retracted and operational positions. An opening is defined within the frame to accommodate beverage containers such as cans and cups. A U-shaped support is pivotally mounted to and beneath the frame and is spring biased towards a vertical attitude beneath the container opening when the frame is extended. When the frame is retracted the support automatically folds against the frame for storage. The frame consists of two telescoping elements moving between extended and collapsed conditions as the frame moves between the operational and retracted positions. The frame is about as long as the housing is deep when retracted, but is substantially longer when operational. This results in a reduced-depth housing usable where space is limited.

Abstract: A container holder for use within a vehicle armrest includes a housing, mountable to an armrest support within the armrest, and a frame slidably mounted to the housing for movement between retracted and operational positions. A partially enclosed, C-shaped open area is defined within the frame to accommodate beverage containers such as cans and cups. The partially enclosed open area intersects a longitudinal edge of the frame. This enables the container holder to accommodate a container having a cross-sectional dimension greater than the width of the frame. A U-shaped support is pivotably mounted to and beneath the frame for vertically supporting the container. When the frame is retracted, the support automatically folds against the frame for storage.