Adjustable beverage holder
A holder for supporting an object in a vehicle includes a first support member. A second support member is movably mounted on the first support member about an axis. Each of a plurality of adjusting members define a contact surface for laterally supporting an object and has a first end movably connected to the first support member and a second end movably connected to the second support member. The adjusting members are substantially coplanar and transverse to the axis. Movement of the second support member relative to the first support member causes the adjusting member to move relative to both the first and the second support members.
This invention relates to a holder for supporting an object. More particularly, the invention relates to a beverage holder for supporting a beverage container in a vehicle.
Vehicle interiors typically include a variety of decorative and functional trim panels. For example, the front area of the interior of a vehicle, generally referred to as the cockpit area, includes an instrument panel, typically formed of a molded plastic material. Vehicles also may include a center console located between the driver and passenger seats for storage and placement of various articles. The instrument panel and/or center console can include a variety of devices for holding beverage containers, typically known as cup holders. Known cup holders typically are adapted to hold known beverage containers, such as cans, cups, and bottles. However, known cup holders generally can be used for only a limited number of sizes of containers. It would be advantageous if there could be developed an improved beverage holder for supporting a greater number of beverage container sizes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a holder for supporting an object in a vehicle. The holder includes a first support member. A second support member is movably mounted on the first support member about an axis. Each of a plurality of adjusting members define a contact surface for laterally supporting an object and has a first end movably connected to the first support member and a second end movably connected to the second support member. The adjusting members are substantially coplanar and transverse to the axis. Movement of the second support member relative to the first support member causes the adjusting member to move relative to both the first and the second support members.
Other advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to
The substrate 12 includes an ornamental or decorative substrate surface 14 and a substrate underside 16. As best shown in
A plurality of bosses or posts 26 extend outwardly (downwardly as viewed in
As shown in
A first circumferential groove 38 is formed in the rim underside 34 and includes an outer wall 40 and a middle wall 42. A plurality of first ratchet teeth 44 extend inwardly from the outer wall 40. A first portion 46A of a circumferentially and radially inwardly extending channel 46 is formed in the middle wall 42. A second circumferential groove 48 is formed in the rim underside 34 inboard of the first circumferential groove 38 between the middle wall 42 and the inner wall 50. A plurality of rim apertures 52 is formed in the inner wall 50 between the rim opening 36 and the second circumferential groove 48. The purpose of the rim apertures 52 will be described herein.
A substantially annular rim retainer 54 is disposed in the second circumferential groove 48. The retainer 54 includes a radially outwardly extending circumferential second lip 56. A second portion 46B of the circumferentially and radially inwardly extending channel 46 is formed in the second lip 56. Preferably, the retainer 54 attached within the second circumferential groove 48 with a snap fit. It will be appreciated however, that the retainer 54 can be attached within the second circumferential groove 48 by any desired means, such as with an adhesive. The retainer 54 can be formed from any desired substantially rigid material, such as plastic or metal. Polypropylene, nylon, polystyrene, and spring steel are preferred materials for the rim 30 because of their strength and rigidity.
Preferably, the rim 30 is mounted about the substrate opening 20 of the substrate 12 with a snap fit such that the first lip 22 is seated within the channel 46. As will be described herein, the rim 30 is preferably rotatably mounted to the substrate 12 about an axis A. Although the rim opening 36 has been described and shown in the figures as being cylindrically shaped, it will be appreciated that the rim opening 36 can be of any desired shape. The rim 30 can be formed from any desired substantially rigid material, such as plastic. Polypropylene, nylon, ABS, and PCABS are preferred materials for the rim 30 because of their strength and rigidity. Referring to
As shown in
A substantially annular second biasing member 74 is disposed about the posts 26. The second biasing member 74 can be formed of any desired material. A plurality of radially inwardly oriented indentations 76 are formed in the second biasing member 74. A spring aperture 78, best shown in
Referring to
As best shown in
Preferably, the adjusting members 80 are substantially coplanar and transverse relative to the axis A. As used herein, substantially coplanar is defined as lying in substantially the same plane. More preferably, substantially coplanar is defined as the ends 82A and 82B of the adjusting member 80 lying in substantially the same plane. Substantially coplanar further includes overlapping adjusting members 80 wherein the bodies 82 of adjacent adjusting members 80 contact one another and are thereby caused to slightly deflect or bend. Further, it will be appreciated that the overlapping adjusting members 80 are substantially coplanar, even when slightly deflected or bent. Transverse is defined as disposed at about a 90 degree angle relative to the axis A. Each adjusting member 80 is shown in
The contact surfaces 82C of the adjusting members 80 define a container opening 86 having a first circumferential size or diameter C1 or receiving and laterally supporting an object, such as a first beverage container (such as shown by a phantom line 87 in
As shown in
An alternate embodiment of the holder is generally illustrated at 10 ′ in
A plurality of adjusting members 90 extend between the mounting bosses 92 and the rim 30. Each adjusting member 90 includes a substantially elongated body 82′, an inboard end 82A′, and an outboard end 82B′. The body 82′ defines a contact surface 82C′. The ends 82A′ and 82B′ include substantially spherical portions 84A′ and 84B′, respectively. Preferably, the inboard spherical portion 84A′ has a diameter larger than the rim apertures 52 and outboard spherical portion 84B′ has a diameter larger than the mounting apertures 94.
The contact surfaces 82C′ of the adjusting members 90 define a container opening 86′ having a first circumferential size or diameter C1′ for receiving and laterally supporting an object, such as the beverage container shown by a phantom line 87′ in
If desired, the adjusting members 90 can be formed from a substantially elongatable material. As used herein, elongatable is defined as being deformable or extendable lengthwise. For example, rubber or other elastomers can be used.
In operation, a vehicle occupant applies a radially inward force to the button 68 (in the direction of an arrow 98, such as shown in
The clockwise rotation of the rim 30 causes the inboard ends 82A of the adjusting members 80 to move along a circumferential path (as shown by an arrow 99 in
When the vehicle occupant has rotated the rim 30 to a desired position, the button 68 is released, causing the first biasing member 62 to urge the second ratchet teeth 72 into engagement with the first ratchet teeth 44, thereby defining the second locked position. Preferably, the rim 30 is movable between a plurality of locked positions. The first locked position shown in
When the rim 30 is in the second locked position, the contact surfaces 82C of the adjusting members 80 define a container opening 100 having a second circumferential size or diameter C2 for receiving and laterally supporting an object, such as a second beverage container shown by a phantom line 102 in
Similarly, the vehicle occupant can again apply a radially inward force to the button 68 so as to urge the second ratchet teeth 72 away from the first ratchet teeth 44. The vehicle occupant can then move the rim 30 in a counterclockwise direction. For example, when the rim 30 of the holder 10 shown in
The counterclockwise rotation of the rim 30 causes the inboard ends 82A of the adjusting members 80 to move along a circumferential path (as shown by the arrow 99 in
When the vehicle occupant has rotated the rim 30 to a desired position, the button 68 is released, causing the first biasing member 62 to urge the second ratchet teeth 72 into engagement with the first ratchet teeth 44, thereby defining the first locked position, as best shown in
The operation of the embodiment of the holder 10′ illustrated in
The vehicle occupant can move the rim 30 in a clockwise direction. For example, when the rim 30 of the holder 10′ shown in
When the rim 30 is in the second locked position, the contact surfaces 82C′ of the adjusting members 90 define a container opening 100′ having a second circumferential size or diameter C2′ for receiving and laterally supporting an object, such as the beverage container shown by a phantom line 103 in
In operation, the holder 10, 10′ can support objects having a variety of diameters, and a variety of circumferential shapes and sizes. An object, such as the container 87, 87′, 102, 103 for example, can be inserted into the container opening 86, 86′, 100, and 100′ such that a lower portion of the container 87, 87′, 102, 103 is supported by the lower platform 88, as shown in
Although the holder 10, 10′ has been described as movable between a plurality of locked positions by means of the ratchet assembly 58, the ratchet assembly 58 is not required. For example, if desired, the rim 30 can be mounted in frictional engagement with the substrate 12. A rotational force exerted on the rim 30 in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction causes the rim 30 to slide against the substrate 12 between a plurality of frictionally engaged or locked positions.
One advantage of the invention is that the adjusting members 80, 90 can be adjusted to define any desired circumferential size, such as circumferential sizes C1 and C2, as illustrated in
Another advantage of the invention is when an object having a circumferential size, or diameter C2 slightly larger than the container opening, such as the container opening 100, the substantially flexible adjusting members 80 are caused to deflect radially outward, as best shown in
Another advantage of the invention is that objects having irregular circumferential shapes can also be easily and conveniently supported within the container opening 86, 100. Such objects can include an object having substantially rectangular circumferential cross section, such as a conventional cellular telephone, or a beverage box. The object, such as a beverage box, can contact any one of or all of the adjusting members 80, 90.
The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been described in its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its scope.
Claims
1. A holder for supporting an object in a vehicle, the holder comprising:
- a first support member;
- a second support member movably mounted on said first support member about an axis; and
- a plurality of adjusting members, each adjusting member defining a contact surface for laterally supporting an object, each said adjusting member having a first end movably connected to said first support member and a second end movably connected to said second support member,
- wherein said adjusting members are substantially coplanar and transverse to said axis, and
- wherein movement of said second support member relative to said first support member causes said adjusting members to move relative to said first and said second support members.
2. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said holder further includes a locking mechanism for locking said second support member relative to said first support member.
3. The holder according to claim 2, wherein the second support member is moveable between a plurality of locked positions.
4. The holder according to claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism is a ratchet assembly.
5. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said second support member frictionally engages said first support member.
6. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said second support member is rotatably mounted on the first support member.
7. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said second support member is rotatably mounted on said first support member about said axis, such that when said second support member is rotated in a first direction, the contact surfaces of said adjusting members move radially outward away from said axis, and when said second support member is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the contact surfaces of said adjusting members move radially inward toward said axis.
8. The holder according to claim 7, wherein said second support surface includes a first opening having a first circumferential size, and wherein the contact surfaces of said adjusting members define a second opening, such that when said second support member is rotated in the first direction, said second opening has a second circumferential size, and when said second support member is rotated in the second direction, said second opening has a third circumferential size smaller than said second circumferential size.
9. The holder according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second ends of each said adjusting member is pivotally connected to said respective first and second support members.
10. The holder according to claim 9, wherein said one of said first and second ends of each said adjusting member is further slidably connected to said respective first and second support members.
11. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said first end of each said adjusting member is pivotally connected to one of said first and second support members, and wherein said second end of each said adjusting member is pivotally and slidably connected to the other one of said first and second support members.
12. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said holder further includes a biasing member disposed between said first support member and said adjusting members.
13. The holder according to claim 12, wherein the first end of each said adjusting member is movably connected to said biasing member.
14. The holder according to claim 13, wherein said first end of each said adjusting member is pivotally and slidably connected to said biasing member.
15. The holder according to claim 12, wherein said biasing member is a spring.
16. The holder according to claim 12, wherein said biasing member defines a substantially circular shape, and wherein one of said first and second ends of each said adjusting member is connected to said biasing member.
17. The holder according to claim 16, wherein said one of said first and second ends of each said adjusting member is movably connected to said biasing member.
18. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said holder further includes a lower platform for horizontally supporting a lower portion of said object laterally supported by said contact surface of each said adjusting member.
19. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting member is substantially flexible.
20. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting member is substantially elongatable.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 26, 2004
Publication Date: Sep 1, 2005
Inventors: Alan Sturt (West Bloomfield, MI), Jeff Kempf (Romeo, MI)
Application Number: 10/787,650