1. Field of the Invention
One aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle door container holder.
2. Background Art
While in a vehicle, many people enjoy drinking a beverage. Often the beverages are in containers subject to tipping over during movements of the vehicle. To avoid tipping, manufacturers have formed cup holders in the passenger compartment of vehicles. However, some of these exhibit the disadvantages of being either too large or too small for the variety of containers in which beverages are dispensed. Containers can also move around, either spilling the contents of the container and/or making distracting noises.
Further, manufacturers have had to sacrifice critical spaces in the passenger compartment such as the console between seats, to accommodate these cup holders. In many instances, the critical space used can not be recovered when the cup holders are not in use. Moving these cup holders to spaces that feature lower usage intensity can result in fixed dimension cup holders that may have one or more of the disadvantages of spilling contents, making distracting noises, or the disadvantage of awkward positioning such as slanted cup holders. Slanted cup holders may require the use of sealed containers and may often force the manufacturer to place unsightly warning labels in the passenger compartment to caution against using open containers in these cup holders.
In view of the foregoing, what is needed is a manner of retaining containers in the passenger compartment of vehicles which does not use critical spaces, which does not occupy substantial passenger compartment space when not in use, which can inhibit spillage and/or distracting noises, and which can be used with many differently sized and shaped containers.
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle door is provided which includes a door panel having a first wall and a second wall spaced from the first wall. The first and second walls help to form a cavity. In this embodiment, the door further includes an arm member moveable relative to at least the first wall, and a biasing member that extends between the door panel and the arm member. In at least this embodiment, the biasing member cooperates with at least the first wall to be able to position a container within the cavity in a contacting relationship between the first wall and the arm member.
In another embodiment, a container holder for a vehicle door is provided. In this embodiment the container holder includes a substrate having at least a first surface defining a portion of a cavity and a moveable member connected to the substrate. In at least this embodiment, the moveable member cooperates with the first surface to enable a container to be supported within the cavity in a contacting relationship between the moveable member and the first surface. In this embodiment, the substrate is attached to a vehicle door and forms a portion of a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
In another embodiment, a method for retaining a container in a vehicle door is provided. In this embodiment, the method includes providing a vehicle door having a cavity portion and providing a moveable member within the cavity portion. The moveable member is capable of movement in response to a force to be able to support a container in a contacting relationship with the vehicle door and the moveable member within the cavity portion.
a, 3b and 3c show a vehicle container holder made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily of scale, some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for the claims and/or a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. Moreover, unless expressly stated to the contrary, and the description of a group or class of components or materials as suitable preferred for a given purpose in connection with the invention implies that mixtures of any two or more members of the group or class may be equally suitable or preferred.
Referring to
While the cavity 10 is illustrated to be a stationary map pocket, however, it should be understood that the cavity 10 could be provided in other structures. For instance, non-limiting examples of the cavity 10 include an articulated map pocket, a storage net, an enclosed space having a slide cover, a hinged cover or an elastic closure, a channel, a molded holder, or combinations thereof.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the container 14 may be retained in the cavity 10 by the arm member 12 without tipping or causing a distracting noise. In some embodiments, the container 14 may be positioned within the cavity 10 at the end of the cavity nearest the front of the vehicle. While not wishing to be bound by any one influence, such positioning may provide additional stability against tipping during acceleration and deceleration.
In some embodiments, the arm member 12 may be of various dimensions and shapes. As illustrated in some embodiments, the arm member 12 can be relatively short in length, but sufficient in length to enable a contacting relationship between the wall 9, the arm member 12, and the container 14, while occupying relatively small space in the passenger compartment 6. In other embodiments, the arm member 12 may be relatively longer to accommodate relatively larger containers and provide greater stability to the container 14 through relatively increased contact area. Non-limiting examples of the arm member 12 may include a retaining member, a moveable member 20 (
The arm member 12 (
Referring to
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In this embodiment, a relatively longer moveable member 20 may be used to increase the relative range of dimensions of the container 14 that can be accommodated. Stabilizing such relatively larger containers may require a relatively greater area of the moveable member 20 in contact with the container 14.
In at least one embodiment, the moveable member 20 may be triggered from a closed position 26 into an open position 28 by a push-push mechanism 24. The rate of opening may be modified to be more pleasing to vehicle users by the viscous gear dampener 28 located on a hinge pin 30. When open, the cavity 10 is able to receive the container 14. When the container 14 is removed from the cavity 10, in at least one embodiment, the moveable member 20 may be repositioned from the open position 28 to the closed position 26 using the push-push mechanism 24. In at least one embodiment, in the closed position 26, the moveable member 20 is approximately parallel to the vehicle door 4 and no longer occupying substantial space in the passenger compartment 6. As is illustrated, a rubber bumper 22 may be attached to the substrate 23 to enable a relative reduction in distracting noise.
Referring to
Non-limiting examples of the sliding track mechanism 40 include a channel, a channel having disc-shaped rollers, a channel having ball bearings, a sliding bearing mechanism, a telescoping mechanism, a linear motion mechanism, or combinations thereof. The arm member 52 may be fabricated or assembled by different methods. Non-limiting examples of the arm member 52 assembly and/or fabrication may include having the arm member as a unitized portion of the moveable member 46, as a moveable portion fixed to the moveable member 46, or as an independently moveable arm member 52. The magnitude to which the arm member 52 may move independently of the moveable member 46 may help determine the presence and magnitude of application of compressive force to the container 14 derived from the force applying member 13. Non-limiting examples of the movement of the moveable member 46 when applying compressive force may include translational motion, rotary motion, or combinations thereof.
A non-limiting example of the force applying member 13 may include springs, such as a leaf spring or a coiled spring, a hydraulic cylinder, a gear, a ratchet, or magnets. Non-limiting examples of the function of the stopping member include applying a countering force to the force applied by the force applying member 13 or providing frictional fixed stopping action. Non-limiting examples of the stopping member 50 and the force applying member 13 may include springs, the gear, the ratchet, or combinations thereof.
While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention.