Patent Application
20180251059
The present application relates generally to the field of cup holders for use in vehicles or other applications.
Vehicle cup holders may include one or more cavities for retaining a beverage container, and each of the cavities may include one or more movable members (e.g., fingers) that move in response to insertion and/or removal of a beverage container from the cavity so as to help retain the beverage container within the cavity. The one or more members or fingers act to more securely hold the beverage container so that it will be less likely to move during operation of the vehicle.
One challenge associated with conventional cup holders relates to the interaction between the movable members and the beverage container. Where the beverage container has a relatively straight-sided profile, the beverage container may be relatively easily inserted into and removed from the cavity of the cup holder. However, beverage containers having more complicated geometries, such as an inwardly-curved profile (e.g., as may be used with soda bottles and water bottles), may experience additional resistance from the movable members during insertion or removal. For example, where the movable members are only hinged at a top of the movable member, the bottle may be inserted into the cup holder but experience significant resistance from the retention structure when being withdrawn therefrom. Such high resistance may increase the likelihood that the contents of the container may be spilled when the container is withdrawn from the cup holder.
It would be advantageous to provide an improved cup holder that includes a more robust design and which allows for more consistent resistance during insertion and removal of beverage containers.
One embodiment relates to a retainer assembly for a cup holder, including an arm defining an first axis and a second axis, the arm configured to pivot about the first axis, and a finger pivotally coupled to the arm about the second axis. The finger is configured to be received in the cup holder.
Another embodiment relates to a cup holder assembly, including a cup holder and a retainer assembly including an arm defining an upper axis and a lower axis, the arm configured to pivot about an upper axis, and a finger pivotally coupled to the arm about the lower axis. The finger is configured to be received in the cup holder.
Referring to the FIGURES generally, a cup holder assembly for a vehicle is shown according to an exemplary embodiment, and includes a plurality of cup holders, each of which includes one or move movable retention members for securing contents within the cup holders (such movable retention members will hereinafter be referred to as “retainer assemblies”). Each retainer assembly includes a housing, a first movable portion (referred to hereinafter as an “arm”), and a second movable portion (referred to hereinafter as a “finger”). The arm and finger are configured to move relative to the housing to reduce the resistance for inserting and withdrawing a container from the cup holder while still providing secure retention of the container when the container is positioned within the cup holder.
Referring to
As shown in
Referring now to
Referring to
A lower guide 32 extends from each of the housing walls 24 proximate the lower end 22 of the housing 20. The lower guides 32 extend from the housing walls 24 toward the forward edge 23 of the housing 20 and are configured to engage corresponding recesses defined by the outer surface 12. A catch 34 extends from the housing lower cross member 28 toward the forward edge 23 of the housing 20 and is configured to engage a corresponding structure defined by the outer surface 12 with an interference fit. For example, the upper guides 30 and/or the lower guides 32 may interact with the outer surface 12 to hold the housing 20 in a fixed vertical position, such that the catch 34 may not be disengaged from the outer surface 12 without applying an outside force to deflect the catch 34. According to other exemplary embodiments, the housing 20 may be coupled to the outer surface 12 in other ways.
Each of the housing walls 24 includes an opening 36 defined in the inner surface 25 proximate the upper end 21 of the housing 20. For example, the opening 36 may be defined proximate the upper guide 30. As shown in
Still referring to
An upper pin 50 extends generally outward from each of the arm walls 44 proximate the upper end 41 of the arm 40. The upper pin 50 may be generally cylindrical and is configured to be received in the opening 36 in the housing wall 24, such that the arm 40 is pivotally coupled to the housing 20 about the upper axis A-A. The upper pin 50 and the opening 36 interact to define an upper hinge rotating about the upper axis A-A. A stopper pin 52 extends generally outward from each of the arm walls 44 offset from and parallel to the upper pin 50. The stopper pin 52 may be offset from the upper pin 50 by a distance substantially the same as the radius defined by the stopper slot 38, such that when the upper pin 50 is received in the opening 36, the stopper pin 52 may be received in the stopper slot 38.
The retainer assembly 18 further includes an upper (i.e., first) spring 60. The upper spring 60 may be a torsion spring having a first tang 62, a second tang 64, and a coil 66 extending therebetween. According to an exemplary embodiment, an upper spring projection 54 extends inward from the inner surface 45 of each of the arm walls 44 coaxially with the upper pin 50. The upper spring projection 54 defines an outer diameter that is less than or substantially the same as an inner diameter of the coil 66, such that the upper spring 60 may be coupled to the arm 40 by receiving the upper spring projections 54 within the coil 66. For example, to couple the upper spring 60 to the arm 40, an installer may compress the coil 66, bringing the first tang 62 and the second tang 64 (e.g., defining lateral ends of the upper spring 60) closer together. The upper spring 60 may define a laterally compressed width less than a space between the upper spring projections 54. When the upper spring 60 is released, the coil 66 expands (i.e., rebounds) laterally outward until the coil 66 is disposed about each of the upper spring projections 54.
When the arm 40 is received in and coupled to the housing 20, the first tang 62 of the upper spring 60 engages a forward (i.e., inner, lower, etc.) surface 27 of the housing upper cross member 26 and the second tang 64 engages an arm wall 44. According to other exemplary embodiments, the first tang 62 may engage other surface of the housing 20 and the second tang 64 may engage other surfaces of the arm 40, for example a forward (i.e., inner, lower, etc.) surface 47 of the arm upper cross member 46. The stopper slot 38 defines a first (i.e., forward) end 37 and a second (i.e., rearward) end 39. In this configuration, the interaction between the stopper pin 52 and the stopper slot 38 limits (i.e., restricts) an angle of rotation of the arm 40 about the upper axis A-A. When a beverage container is inserted into a cup holder 4 and engages the retainer assembly 18, the arm 40 rotates (i.e., pivots) about the upper axis A-A away from the forward edge 23 of the housing 20. As the arm 40 rotates in this direction, the stopper pin 52 travels through the stopper slot 38 away from the first end 37 and toward the second end 39. The arm 40 may be pivoted away from the forward edge 23 until the stopper pin engages the second end 39 of the stopper slot 38, at which point the second end 39 prevents the stopper pin 52 and therefore the arm 40 from pivoting any further away from the front edge 23. During rotation of the arm 40 in this direction, angular displacement within the coil 66 causes an increase in torque, providing a returning bias on the arm 40 to pivot toward the front edge 23 of the housing 20. When the beverage container no longer engages the retainer assembly 18, the upper spring 60 forces the arm 40 back toward the forward edge 23 of the housing 20 until the stopper pin 52 engages the first end 37 of the stopper slot 38. In this configuration, the upper spring 60 may still be angularly displaced from its resting position, providing a torque on the upper spring 60, such that the stopper pin 52 is held in position against the first end 37 until the retainer assembly 18 is engaged.
While
As shown in
According to another exemplary embodiment, the arm walls 44 may be compressed toward each other for insertion into the housing 20. In this configuration, the outer arm width W2 may be reduced until the chamfer portion of the upper and stopper pins 50, 52 are configured to be received between the housing walls 24. As the arm 40 is further inserted into the housing 20, the chamfer interacts with the inner surfaces 25 of the housing walls 24 to further deflect the arm walls 44 inward until the outer arm width W2 is narrow enough for the housing walls 24 to receive the outermost surfaces of the upper and stopper pins 50, 52. The upper pins 50 are then aligned (e.g., axially) with the openings 36, along the upper axis A-A and the stopper pins 52 are aligned within the stopper slot 38, such that the housing walls 24 and/or the arm walls 44 are configured to rebound to their non-deflected positions. When the housing walls 24 and the arm walls 44 are in the non-deflected positions, the upper pins 50 are received in the openings 36 with an interference fit and the stopper pins are received in the stopper slots 38 with an interference fit. According to an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the housing 20 or the arm 40 is formed from a material capable of plastic deformation, such that the housing walls 24 and/or the arm walls 44 may be deflected for receiving the upper and stopper pins 50, 52 therebetween.
A set of opposing flanges 68 extend away from (e.g., below, coplanar with, etc.) the arm lower cross member 48. The flanges 68 include outer surfaces 69 defining an outer flange width W4 therebetween. A lower pin 70 extends generally outward from each of the flanges 68 proximate the lower end 42 of the arm 40. As shown in
The retainer assembly 18 further includes a lower (i.e., second) spring 74. The lower spring 74 may be a torsion spring having a first tang 76, a second tang 78, and a coil 80 extending therebetween. The lower spring projection 72 defines an outer diameter that is less than or substantially the same as an inner diameter of the coil 80, such that the lower spring 74 may be coupled to the arm 40 by receiving the lower spring projections 72 within the coil 80. For example, to couple the lower spring 74 to the arm 40, an installer may compress the coil 80, bringing the first tang 76 and the second tang 78 (e.g., defining lateral ends of the lower spring 74) closer together. The lower spring 74 may define a laterally compressed width less than a space between the lower spring projections 72. When the lower spring 74 is released, the coil 80 expands (i.e., rebounds) laterally outward until the coil 80 is disposed about each of the spring projections 72.
Referring to
The finger openings 88 extend generally coaxially through each of the finger walls 84. The finger openings 88 are configured to receive the lower pins 70 therein, such that the finger openings 88 are disposed along the lower axis B-B. In this configuration, the finger 82 is pivotally coupled to the arm 40 about the lower axis B-B and the lower pin 70 and the finger opening 88 interact to define a lower hinge rotating about the lower axis B-B. While
As shown in
According to another exemplary embodiment, the flanges 68 may be compressed toward each other for insertion into the finger 82. In this configuration, the outer flange width W4 may be reduced until the chamfer portion of the lower pins 70 are configured to be received between the finger walls 84. As the flanges 68 are further inserted into the channel 83 of the finger 82, the chamfer interacts with the inner surfaces 85 of the finger walls 84 to further deflect the flanges 68 inward until the outer flange width W4 is narrow enough for the finger walls 84 to receive the outermost surfaces of the lower pins 70. The lower pins 70 are then aligned (e.g., axially) with the finger openings 88, along the lower axis B-B, such that the finger walls 84 and/or the flanges 68 are configured to rebound to their non-deflected positions. When the finger walls 84 and the flanges 68 are in the non-deflected positions, the lower pins 70 are received in the finger openings 88 with an interference fit. According to an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the arm 40 or the finger 82 is formed from a material capable of plastic deformation, such that the arm walls 44 and/or the finger walls 80 may be deflected for receiving the lower pins 70 therebetween.
Referring now to
Each of the finger walls 84 defines an arcuate notch 90 formed between a first (i.e., forward) notch end 92 and a second (i.e., rearward) notch end 94. For example, the notch 90 may be defined generally radially about the finger opening 88. The finger 82 is configured to receive the arm lower cross member 48 at least partially within the notch 90 and to rotate (i.e., pivot) about the lower axis B-B with the arm lower cross member 48 disposed within the notch 90. In this configuration, the interaction between the notch 90 and the arm lower cross member 48 limits (i.e., restricts) an angle of rotation of the finger 82 about the lower axis B-B. When a beverage container is removed from a cup holder 4 and engages the retainer assembly 18, the finger 82 rotates about the lower axis B-B, such that the finger 82 is further received within the arm 40. As the finger 82 rotates in this direction, the first notch end 92 pivots toward the forward surface 49 of the arm lower cross member 48 and the second notch end 94 pivots away from the rearward surface 51. The finger 82 may be further rotated until the first notch end 92 engages the forward surface 49, at which point the forward surface 49 prevents the finger 82 from further rotating. After complete rotation of the finger 82 until the first notch end 92 engages the arm lower cross member 48, the arm 40 may rotate about the upper axis A-A to further withdraw the finger 82 through the slot 10 and out of the cup holder 4. During rotation of the finger 82 in this direction, angular displacement within the coil 80 causes an increase in torque, providing a returning bias on the finger 82 to pivot away from the arm 40 and into the cup holder 4. When the beverage container no longer engages the retainer assembly 18, the lower spring 74 forces the finger 82 away from the arm 40 until the second notch end 94 engages the rearward surface 51 of the arm lower cross member 48. In this configuration, the lower spring 74 may still be angularly displaced from its resting position, providing a torque on the lower spring 74, such that the second notch end 94 is held in position against the rearward surface 51 until the retention assembly 18 is engaged.
Referring now to
The container 100 defines a generally convex lower portion 102 configured to be received below the retainer assemblies 18 and a generally concave middle portion 104 configured to be received proximate the fingers 82 when the container 100 is fully received in the cup holder 4. The lower portion 102 defines a lower portion diameter and the middle portion 104 defines a middle portion diameter less than the lower portion diameter. While
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For purposes of this application, the terms “front,” “forward,” and the like refer to a side or direction in the retainer assembly 18 toward the outer surface 12 of the walls 6 of the cup holder 4. The terms “rear,” “rearward,” and the like refer to a side or direction in the retainer assembly 18 away from the outer surface 12. According to other exemplary embodiments, the retainer assembly 18 may have other orientations relative to the wall 6 of the cup holder 4. Thus, while the description has used terms such as “upper” and “lower” to describe various components, it should be understood that the orientation of the various components may be varied according to other exemplary embodiments.
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like as used herein mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.
References herein to the position of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
It is to be understood that although the present invention has been described with regard to preferred embodiments thereof, various other embodiments and variants may occur to those skilled in the art, which are within the scope and spirit of the invention, and such other embodiments and variants are intended to be covered by corresponding claims. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, mounting arrangements, use of materials, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. For example, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
