Patent ID: 8348110
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A self-rotating cup holder comprising: (a) a generally cup-shaped inner base having a top edge and an inner cavity, a weight is disposed in a portion of the top edge, the inner cavity is for receiving a beverage cup; (b) a generally cup-shaped outer base for inserting into a cup holder in a vehicle, the outer base having a top edge and an inner cavity, wherein the inner cavity of the inner base slidably fits into the inner cavity of the outer base such that the inner base can rotate within the outer base and the top edge of the inner base slidably rests over the top edge of the outer base; (c) a second circular tunnel formed by a second circular track disposed in a bottom surface of the top edge of the inner base and a fifth circular track disposed in a top surface of the top edge of the outer base; (d) a third circular tunnel formed by a third circular track disposed in the bottom surface of the top edge of the inner base and a sixth circular track disposed in the top surface of the top edge of the outer base; (e) a first spring mounting block disposed in the second circular tunnel, wherein a first end of a first spring is attached to a first end of the first spring mounting block and a first spring stopper is disposed on a second end of the first spring; (f) a second spring mounting block disposed in the third circular tunnel and aligned with the first spring mounting block, wherein a first end of a second spring is attached to a second end of the second spring mounting block and a second spring stopper is disposed on the second end of the second spring, wherein the first spring and the second spring extend through the respective tunnels in opposite directions; (g) a first stopper tunnel disposed in the second tunnel and positioned around the first spring, the first spring stopper on the first spring is positioned outside of a first end of the first stopper tunnel; and (h) a second stopper tunnel disposed in the third tunnel and aligned with the first stopper tunnel, the second stopper tunnel is positioned around the second spring, the second spring stopper on the second spring is positioned outside of a second end of the second stopper tunnel, wherein the first stopper tunnel and second stopper tunnel are both positioned opposite both the first spring mounting block and the second spring mounting block; wherein when the inner base rotates in a first direction the first spring is stretched in a first direction toward a second end of the first spring mounting block, wherein when the inner base rotates in a second direction the second spring is stretched in second direction toward a first end of the second spring mounting block; wherein either (i) the first spring mounting block and the second spring mounting block are fixedly attached to the second track and the third track, respectively, and the first stopper tunnel and the second stopper tunnel are fixedly attached to the fifth track and the sixth track, respectively, or (ii) the first spring mounting block and the second spring mounting block are fixedly attached to the fifth track and the sixth track, respectively, and the first stopper tunnel and the second stopper tunnel are fixedly attached to the second track and the third track, respectively.