Beverage holder

Abstract

A beverage holder has a receiver which is open to a top for insertion of a beverage container, a holding ring which in a home position is located at an upper periphery of the receiver, the holding ring being arranged to be brought into a first holding position in which it is located laterally above the receiver, the holding ring being arranged to be brought also into a second holding position in which it is located above the receiver but not laterally offset with respect to the receiver.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to beverage containers. Beverage holders of such a kind are known per se.

They are used for holding one or two beverage containers in a motor vehicle. Beverage containers may be a beverage can, a cup, a beaker or the like.

A beverage holder for two beverage containers is known from DE 44 29 515 C1. The known beverage holder has a cylindrical recess as receiver for insertion of a beverage container. The known beverage holder also has a holding ring formed by two holding arms which can be folded together. By means of a slideway, the holding ring can be displaced upwards and laterally pivoted into a holding position in which the holding ring is located above and laterally offset with respect to the receiver. In the holding position, a second beverage container can be inserted into the holding ring. In a home position, the holding ring (folded together) is located in the receiver; the receiver cannot be used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage holder that can be used in a variety of ways.

The beverage holder according to the invention has a receiver which is open to the top for insertion of a beverage container, “to the top” being understood with reference to the intended installation position of the beverage holder. The receiver can be, for example, a cylindrical recess. The beverage holder according to the invention moreover has a holding ring, which in a home position is located at the upper periphery of the receiver, where it does not impede insertion of a beverage container into the receiver or its removal. The holding ring does not have to be closed; it is sufficient for the holding ring to engage around, and laterally support, an inserted beverage container to the extent that the beverage container is held in all directions laterally. In the home position the holding ring does not have any function per se; it is accommodated in space-saving manner. In contrast to the beverage holder known from DE 44 29 515 C1, the beverage holder according to the invention can be used for insertion of a beverage container when the holding ring is in the home position.

The holding ring of the beverage holder according to the invention can be brought into a first holding position, in which it is located laterally above the receiver. In the first holding position, a beverage container can be inserted into the receiver of the beverage holder and a second beverage container can be inserted beside it laterally (and higher) in the holding ring. The beverage holder according to the invention is accordingly suitable for holding two beverage containers.

The holding ring of the beverage holder according to the invention can moreover be brought into a second holding position, in which it is located above the receiver for insertion of the beverage container although not laterally offset with respect to the receiver but rather in register with or in any event approximately in register with the receiver. When the holding ring is in the second holding position, a beverage container can be inserted into the beverage holder, the beverage container being inserted through the holding ring and into the receiver. The holding ring located above the receiver holds the inserted beverage container at a greater height.

As a result, the beverage container according to the invention is suitable for insertion of a relatively tall beverage container such as, for example, a bottle, which would not otherwise be held in the receiver with sufficient security against tipping.

The beverage holder according to the invention has the advantage that it can be accommodated in an installation space required for a beverage holder for holding only one beverage container, the beverage holder according to the invention being suitable for holding, as desired, one or two beverage containers or for holding a relatively tall beverage container, which is laterally supported and held at a greater height by the holding ring when located in the second holding position.

In an embodiment of the invention a slideway is provided by means of which the holding ring is guided so that it can be displaced upwards. Slideways of such a kind are known in various constructional forms; for example, a telescopic guide means is also suitable.

In an embodiment of the invention a pivotal mounting is provided, by means of which the holding ring is guided so that it can be pivoted to the side. In a development, a pivotal mounting having a horizontal pivot axis is provided; accordingly, in one holding position one end face of the holding ring is to the top and in the other holding position the other end face of the holding ring is to the top. A pivotal mounting constitutes a simple possible means for movably guiding the holding ring to the side.

In an embodiment of the invention a releasable connection for the holding ring is provided. The holding ring located in the home position at the upper periphery of the receiver of the beverage holder can be released and fixed to the beverage holder above the receiver. In that arrangement, fixing in the first holding position laterally offset with respect to the receiver and in the second holding position in register with or substantially in register with the receiver is possible. This embodiment of the invention makes possible a simple construction of the beverage holder having, in the simplest case, only two parts, namely the beverage holder with the receiver itself and, as the second part, the holding ring.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 6 show, in perspective views, a first exemplary embodiment of a beverage holder according to the invention in various positions;

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a second exemplary embodiment of a beverage holder according to the invention in various positions; and

FIGS. 10 to 13 show, in perspective views, a third exemplary embodiment of a beverage holder according to the invention in various positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The beverage holder 10 according to the invention which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is integrated into a central console 12 (a fragment of which is shown in the drawings) of a motor vehicle (not otherwise shown). The beverage holder 10 has a cylindrical recess, which forms a receiver 14 for insertion of a beverage container such as, for example, a beverage can, a beaker or a cup. The beverage container 10 moreover has a holding ring 16, which in its home position (shown in FIG. 1) is arranged at the upper periphery of the receiver 14.

In the shown exemplary embodiment of the invention, in its home position the holding ring 16 lies in an annular step-shaped extension 18 to the receiver 14 at the upper periphery thereof (see FIGS. 2 and 3); it is recessed in the central console 12 so that it is flush therewith. By means of a pivotal mounting (not shown in the drawing), the holding ring 16 is pivotally mounted at the upper end of a slider 20. The slider 20 is of a flat shape and curved in accordance with the diameter of the receiver 14. The slider 20 is arranged in a cut-out at the periphery of the receiver 14. The slider 20 is, by means of a slideway 22, guided at the beverage holder 10 so that it is vertically displaceable, the slideway 22 being in the form of a key-and-keyway guide means. In the home position, which is shown in FIG. 1, the slider 20 is recessed in the central console 12 and at the top terminates flush with the central console 12.

Displacement of the slider 20 in an upwards direction causes the holding ring 16 to be brought into a holding position in which it is located above the receiver 14, there being two holding positions—namely a holding position shown in FIG. 2 and referred to hereinafter as the second holding position, in which the holding ring 16 is located above the receiver 14 and in register therewith, and a first holding position, shown in FIG. 3, in which the holding ring 16 has been pivoted about the horizontal pivot axis 21 of the pivotal mounting to a side of the slider 20 that is remote from the receiver 14. In the latter holding position, the holding ring 16 is located above the receiver 14 and laterally offset with respect thereto. Below the holding ring 16 in the first holding position there is a shallow cylindrical depression 24 for accommodating the base of an inserted beverage container.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, when the holding ring 16 is in the first position, a beverage container, for example a beverage can 26, can be inserted in the receiver 14 and a second beverage container, for example also a beverage can 28, can be inserted in the holding ring 16; the beverage holder 10 according to the invention can accordingly hold two beverage containers 26, 28. As can be seen in FIG. 5, when the holding ring 16 is in the home position, a beverage container, for example a beaker 30, can be inserted into the receiver 14 of the beverage holder 10. In the second holding position, a relatively tall beverage container, for example a bottle 32, can, as shown in FIG. 6, be inserted through the holding ring 16 and into the receiver 14 of the beverage holder 10. The holding ring 16 located above the receiver laterally supports the bottle 32 at a greater height so that the bottle 32 is held in the beverage holder 10 in a manner that precludes tipping.

In the case of the beverage holder 10 according to the invention which is shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the pivotal mounting 34, by means of which the holding ring 16 is pivotally mounted and guided on the slider 20, has a vertical pivot axis 21. Otherwise, the beverage holder 10 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 is constructed in the same manner as the beverage holder 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and it functions in the same way. In order to avoid repetitions, reference is made to the above explanations of the beverage holder 10 of FIGS. 1 to 6 for an explanation of the beverage holder of FIGS. 8 to 9. Like components are provided with like reference numerals.

The beverage holder 10 according to the invention which is shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 has a releasable connection for the holding ring 16. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention which is shown and described the releasable connection is in the form of a bayonet connection. Other releasable connections are possible.

As can be seen especially in FIG. 11, the holding ring 16 of the beverage holder 10 has two downwardly pointing projections 36. The projections 36 are cylindrical; they have the same radius as the holding ring 16; they each extend over about 90° in the circumferential direction and are arranged located opposite one another. On its periphery, the receiver 14 of the beverage holder 10 shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 has cut-outs 38 complementary to the projections 36. When it is in its home position shown in FIG. 10, the holding ring 16 lies in the annular step-shaped extension 18 at the upper periphery of the receiver 14, as in the case of the previously described exemplary embodiments of the invention, and terminates flush with the central console 12. The projections 36 of the holding ring 16 are located in the cut-outs 38 of the receiver 14.

In order to bring the holding ring 16 into the holding positions, it is pulled upwards and out from the receiver 14 (FIG. 11) and brought into the two holding positions as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The bayonet connection of the holding ring 16 has grooves 40 extending in a circumferential direction at the bottom ends of the projections 36 remote from the holding ring 16. The grooves 40 co-operate with ribs 42, which are arranged in the annular step-shaped extension at the upper periphery of the receiver 14 and in the depression 24, which is located laterally next to the receiver 14. The ribs 42 in the receiver 14 are offset by 90° in a circumferential direction relative to the cut-outs 38 in the receiver 14 for the projections 36 of the holding ring 16. For fixing in the first holding position, the projections 36 of the holding ring 16 are inserted in the depression 24 and, as a result of rotation through about 90°, the grooves 40 on the projections 36 of the holding ring 16 are brought into engagement with the ribs 42, that is to say the bayonet connection 40, 42 is closed and the holding ring 16 is connected to the beverage holder 10 in the first holding position. As in FIGS. 1 to 9, when it is in the first holding position, which is shown in FIG. 13, the holding ring 16 of the beverage holder 10 of FIGS. 10 to 13 is located above and laterally offset with respect to the receiver 14, above the depression 24.

In the second holding position, which is shown in FIG. 12, the grooves 40 on the projections 36 of the holding ring 16 are, as a result of rotation through 90°, brought into engagement with the ribs 42 of the receiver 14, that is to say the bayonet connection 40, 42 is closed and the holding ring 16 is releasably connected to the beverage holder 10. In the second holding position the holding ring is located above the receiver 14, in register therewith.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a beverage holder, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A beverage holder, comprising a receiver which is open to a top for insertion of a beverage container; a holding ring which in a home position is located at an upper periphery of said receiver, said holding ring being arranged to be brought into a first holding position in which it is located laterally above said receiver, said holding ring being arranged to be brought also into a second holding position in which it is located above said receiver but not laterally offset with respect to said receiver.

2. A beverage holder as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a slideway configured such that said holding ring is guided so that it is displaceable upwards.

3. A beverage holder as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a pivotal mounting for said holding ring configured such that said holding ring is guided so that it is pivotable to a side.

4. A beverage holder as defined in claim 3, wherein said pivotal mounting has a horizontal pivot axis.

5. A beverage holder as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a releasable connection for said holding ring configured such that said holding ring is fastenable above said receiver and laterally offset with respect to said receiver.

6. A beverage holder as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a releasable connection for said holding ring configured such that said holding ring is fastenable above said receiver and laterally is not offset withg respect to said receiver.