Abstract:
A container holder assembly for a vehicle having a base wall and a sidewall defining a substantially cylindrical cavity. The cavity having a first side half and an opposed second side half. A resilient member extending across the cavity. The sidewall including a plurality of spaced slots and the resilient member including a first end attached to the sidewall at the first side half of the cavity and a free end configured to penetrate a selected one of the spaced slots for releasable attachment to the sidewall. The resilient member being configured to deform upon insertion of a container into the cavity.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present exemplary embodiment relates to an adjustable container holder. It finds particular application as a holder configured to retain a drink container such as a cup. It may have particular significance for use in a multi-utility vehicle (MUV), an all terrain vehicle (ATV), or a side by side vehicle (S×S) that frequently encounter rough terrain. However, it is to be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiment is also amenable to other types of vehicles and applications. 
         [0002]    Most vehicles include a cup holder as a standard feature. These cup holders typically comprise an open chamber configured to receive a bottom portion of a cup or other drinking vessel. As will be appreciated, a container holder for a vehicle, such an MUV, ATV and/or S×S, in particular, must provide a secure retention for the container. It is also desirable to have a cup holder that is capable of firmly grasping drinking vessels of more than one size. However, many do not present structure for adjusting the size of the container. As a result, these types of holders cannot accommodate larger containers and do not provide adequate support to smaller containers. 
         [0003]    In this regard, beverage container holders can include a container well, an adjustable wall and a spacer element wherein the adjustable wall is adjustably coupled with the holder body in a spanning relationship with the well for selectively altering the span of the well in order to support and retain differently sized containers. 
         [0004]    Existing holders disclose various techniques for adjusting the size of the container well. These include structures which shift the sidewalls with the bottom wall or base. Other types include inwardly extending flexible fingers designed to conform to the shape of a beverage container and provide sufficient support. These and other existing cup holders tend to be marginally effective in use or mechanically complex leading to increased manufacturing cost. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a long standing need for a container retention device for vehicles which incorporates the features of flexibility, adjustability, adaptability, and low cost. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0006]    Various details of the present disclosure are hereinafter summarized to provide a basic understanding. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and is neither intended to identify certain elements of the disclosure, nor to delineate scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of this summary is to present some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form prior to the more detailed description that is presented hereinafter. 
         [0007]    According to a first embodiment, a container holder assembly for a vehicle is provided. The holder is constructed of a first member which defines a cavity and a resilient member adapted to extend across the cavity. The resilient member dissects the cavity and is configured to deform upon insertion of a container into the cavity. The first member includes a perimeter wall defining a plurality of spaced passages. The resilient member has a fixed end and a free end, the free end being adapted to penetrate a selected one of the spaced passages for releasable attachment to an outer surface of the perimeter wall. 
         [0008]    According to a second embodiment, a cup holder assembly is provided. The assembly includes a cup receiving portion having a bottom wall and at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The cup receiving portion defines a cavity. A resilient member adapted to extend across the cavity is also provided. The resilient member dissects the cavity and is configured to deform upon insertion of the cup into the cavity. The sidewall includes a plurality of spaced resilient member receiving passages. The resilient member includes at least one free end adapted to releasably mate with a selective one of the resilient member receiving passages. 
         [0009]    According to a further embodiment, a container holder assembly is provided. The holder includes a base wall and a sidewall defining a substantially cylindrical cavity. The cavity has a first side half and an opposed second side half. A resilient member having a first end attached to the sidewall at the first side half of the cavity and a free end adapted to extend across said cavity to the second side half is also provided. The sidewall includes a plurality of spaced passages, the free end being configured to penetrate a selected one of the spaced passages for releasable attachment to the sidewall. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The following description and drawings set forth certain illustrative implementations of the disclosure in detail, which are indicative of several exemplary ways in which the various principles of the disclosure may be carried out. The illustrated samples, however, are not exhaustive of the many possible embodiments of the disclosure. Other advantages and novel features of the disclosure will be set forth in the following detailed description of the disclosure when considered in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
           [0011]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an MUV vehicle; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an MUV dashboard including a container holder according to a first embodiment of this disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container holder of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container holder of  FIG. 3  with the retaining strap secured; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a container in the container holder of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the container holder of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a second configuration of a container holder; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the container holder of  FIG. 7  with the retaining strap in a second position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a third configuration of a container holder; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the container holder of  FIG. 9  with the retaining strap in a second position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the container holder of  FIG. 9  with the retaining strap in a third position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view of a fourth configuration of a container holder; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a top plan view of a fifth configuration of a container holder; 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of the container holder of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a cross-section view of  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this detailed description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a four-wheeled MUV vehicle  1  is depicted. Many of the referenced elements are described but are not illustrated. However, these elements are not critical to the understanding of the container holder of the present disclosure. Rather, these elements are provided in the description to explain the general construction of an MUV. A chassis of the MUV  1  is constructed by assembling a plurality of steel pipes. An engine is mounted to the chassis. A pair of left and right front wheels WF and a pair of left and right rear wheels WR are supported by respective suspension arms and by the chassis via a front wheel shock absorber and a rear wheel shock absorber, respectively. 
         [0029]    A seat frame is joined to the chassis to support a driver&#39;s seat  3  and a passenger&#39;s seat  5 . A rear frame for supporting a rear deck  7  is joined to the chassis at a position upward and rearward of the seat frame. A roll-over bar  9  is joined to the upper portion of the chassis to protect an occupant&#39;s sitting space. A bumper  11  is joined to a vehicle body front end portion of the chassis. 
         [0030]    A front cover  13  including a pair of left and right headlamps  15  is disposed rearward and upward of the bumper  11 . Front fenders  17  are installed on the vehicle widthwise left and right of the front cover  13  so as to cover from above the front steering wheels WF. Rear fenders  19  are installed on the vehicle widthwise left and right and above the rear wheels WR. 
         [0031]    An instrument panel  21  and a steering wheel column  23  are installed on the vehicle body in front of the driver&#39;s seat  3  and passenger&#39;s seat  5 . Meters and gauges, an operating lever and the like are disposed at the vehicle widthwise center of the instrument panel  21 . The steering wheel column  23  covers a steering shaft of the steering wheel  25 . A parking brake lever  27  is disposed between the driver&#39;s seat  3  and the passenger&#39;s seat  5 . A floor panel  29  is formed forward of and below the parking brake lever  27  so as to cover the reinforcing pipe, a drive shaft, etc. Doors  31  are installed on each side of the vehicle widthwise outside of each of the driver&#39;s seat  3  and the passenger&#39;s seat  5  so as to pivot around the vehicle body front side. 
         [0032]    The instrument panel  21  is further equipped with at least one container holder  33 . The container holder  33  can be integrally formed as a component of the instrument panel  21 , or may comprise an insert that can be installed in a chamber integrally formed on the instrument panel, or may be a body including a clip member suitable for selective attachment to a corresponding attachment point on the instrument panel. The illustrated embodiment is a container holder  33  including a clip element (see  FIG. 14 ) configured to be received within a protruding slot integrally formed in the instrument panel  21 . Of course, the container holder  33  can form a component of other constituents of a vehicle such as a center console, doors, walls, or any other location contemplated by the skilled artisan. 
         [0033]    Turning now to  FIGS. 3-6  and  14 - 15 , the container holder  33  is depicted in greater detail. The container holder  33  includes a base wall  103  from which a sidewall  105  extends. A drain hole  107  can be provided in base wall  103 . Base wall  103  and sidewall  105  cooperate to form a receptacle  109 . Receptacle  109  is configured to receive a container, providing vertical support via bottom wall  103  and horizontal support via sidewall  105 . Sidewall  105  can be slightly inwardly canted as it approaches the base wall  103  (see  FIGS. 14 and 15 ) to provide improved registration of a container, such as a cup, inserted within the receptacle  109 . 
         [0034]    Sidewall  105  in the depicted embodiment is substantially cylindrical but alternative configurations are also contemplated. For example, a multi-sided shape such as pentagon or hexagon would be suitable. Similarly, it is envisioned that the sidewall can include one or more discontinuous regions where material has been removed to reduce weight. Moreover, any shape capable of receiving and retaining a generally cylindrical container is acceptable. Particularly, the shape of the receptacle  109  should be suitable for receiving containers such as cups, cans, and bottles which may contain beverages or other materials such as propane. 
         [0035]    A retention strap  111  is provided and extends between a first side S 1  of the receptacle and a second side S 2  of the receptacle (see  FIG. 6 ). Strap  111  can include a first fixed end  113  secured to side S 1  of the sidewall  105  and a second free end  115 . The phrase “free end” is intended to reflect its ability to selectively rotate unrestricted about the fixed end  113 . 
         [0036]    Side S 2  of the sidewall  105  can include a plurality of passages  116 ,  116 ′ and  116 ″. These passages are depicted herein as slots, but the disclosure is not limited to this configuration. Rather, any shape suitable for accommodating passage of the strap is acceptable. In fact, the passage shape may be modified based on the shape of the selected strap. For example, circular passages may be employed with a cylindrical strap. 
         [0037]    In this regard, although depicted herein as a strap, it is envisioned that any flexible member such as a cord, line, strip, band, arm, etc. could provide a viable alternative. Moreover, any element having the ability to flex laterally and to be stretched longitudinally is considered functional for this purpose. Advantageously, the material forming the element may also provide a high degree of surface friction with a container inserted into cavity  109 . In this regard, an elastomeric material, such as a rubber or thermoplastic elastomeric may have particular benefit. 
         [0038]    Strap  111  can be secured to the sidewall  105  as a component integrally secured thereto by, for example, co-extrusion, adhesive, or melt attachment, etc. or by a mechanical attachment such as a clasp, hook, buckle, etc. or in the manner depicted in  FIG. 13  and described hereinbelow. 
         [0039]    The free end  115  of the strap  111  is sized such that it can be passed through slots  116 ,  116 ′ and  116 ″. Free end  115  can include a plurality of holes  117 ,  117 ′ and  117 ″ configured to mate with a post  119  disposed on an outer surface of the sidewall  105 . 
         [0040]    With particular reference to  FIG. 5 , it can be seen that when a container  118  is placed within the container holder  33 , it abuts the container holder  33  at a minimum of three points. These include at least a first position C 1  where it abuts the strap  111 , a second position C 2  where it abuts the sidewall  105  and a third position C 3  (not shown) where it abuts the base wall  103 . The container  118  is thereby supported at three spaced apart positions and securely held within the container receptacle  109 . 
         [0041]    By providing the sidewall  105  with a plurality of slots  116 ,  116 ′ and  116 ″ and the strap  111  with a plurality of holes  117 ,  117 ′ and  117 ″ the point at which the receptacle  109  is dissected can be modified by an operator.  FIG. 6  provides a top plan view demonstrating the receptacle can be bisected to reduce its volume available for receiving a container. Alternatively, it can be envisioned that strap  111  secured through slot  116 ′ provides a slightly larger area for insertion, and that strap  111  secured through slot  116  provides an even larger area for container insertion. Furthermore, since strap  111  is flexible, if the free end  115  is not secured, strap  111  can conform to the shape of the cavity  109  and allow a container substantially of the same dimensions of the cavity  109  to be received. 
         [0042]    From an alternative perspective, the area available for insertion of a container can also be minimized by using the smaller dimensioned side of the strap  111  when either slot  116  or  116 ′ is employed. Of course, the present disclosure is not limited to only three slots or the particular dispersion of slots as illustrated. 
         [0043]    In short, the capacity of receptacle  109  can be modified. The container holder can therefore support, in an effective and stable manner, containers of greatly varying size and in each case a three point of contact support system is provided. The minimum size of container that can be supported is that which is so small that it barely extends the strap  111  and the largest size container that can be accommodated is that which matches the diameter of the cavity  109 . 
         [0044]    Advantageously, a flexible stretchable strap  111  having multiple attachment holes ( 117 ) in combination with the multiple points of receptacle dissection via slots ( 116 ) provides a highly adjustable container holder that can accommodate widely divergent sized containers and provide a wide range of varying compressive forces on the container being retained. In this regard, not only can the area available for container insertion be adjusted but so can the tension in the strap. This is beneficial when different materials (e.g. styrofoam vs. metal) are used to form the container and to account for the type of terrain being encountered (e.g. rough vs. smooth) by the vehicle. 
         [0045]    Turning to  FIG. 14 , the exterior surface  120  of sidewall  105  of the container holder  33  can be equipped with a clip member  121  to facilitate its attachment to a portion of the vehicle. Although a simple hook type clip member is depicted, it is envisioned that any type of apparatus suitable for joining the container holder  33  to another surface could be employed. 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIG. 15 , an internal surface  123  of the container holder sidewall  105  can be equipped with a plurality of reinforcement ribs  125 . Furthermore, the outer surface  127  of the container holder can be provided with a shoulder  129  which can facilitate the association of the container holder  33  within a chamber formed on the associated vehicle. More particularly, a chamber can be formed in the vehicle to have a diameter sized to receive a lower body portion  131  of the container holder  33  and include an edge sized to mate with shoulder  129 . 
         [0047]    Turning now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an alternative container holder  233  is provided to demonstrate that a post  219  can be positioned at an alternative location such as between adjacent slots to allow a relatively shorter strap  211  to extend across cavity  209  to an opposed exterior surface of the container sidewall  205 . Particularly, by positioning post  219  between slots  216 ′ and  216 ″. In this design, the strap  211  does not need sufficient length to extend beyond slot  216 ″ when inserted through slots  216  or  216 ′. It is noted that slots are shown in hatching for illustration purposes. 
         [0048]    With reference to  FIGS. 9-11 , an further alternative configuration is depicted wherein a plurality of posts  319 ,  319 ′ and  319 ″ are provided adjacent corresponding slots  316 ,  316 ′ and  316 ″. This is an alternative configuration that allows for strap  311  to have an even shorter dimension yet retain its adjustability. 
         [0049]    Turning next to  FIG. 12 , an alternative configuration of a container holder  433  is depicted. Container holder  401  includes slots  416 ,  416 ′ and  416 ″ which extend from a top edge  441  of the container holder sidewall  405  such that strap  411  can be inserted into a selected slot from above. Strap  411  is equipped with a plurality of protruding shoulder elements  443 ,  443 ′ and  443 ″. The shoulder elements are provided to facilitate the horizontal securement of the strap  411  within a selected passage  416 ,  416 ′ and  416 ″. The shoulder elements  443 ,  443 ′ and  443 ″ can be utilized to provide the appropriate amount of tension in the strap element as required for the intended container being secured. 
         [0050]    Turning next to  FIG. 13 , an embodiment of a container holder  533  is depicted wherein the “fixed end”, in this case a first end  513  of the strap  511  is secured to the sidewall via an open top slot  517  and a corresponding shoulder element  519 . Furthermore, strap  511  is adjustable at the first side of the cavity S 1  by the inclusion of a plurality of additional slots  517 ′ and  517 ″. The free end  515  of the strap  511  is equipped with multiple shoulder elements as described with respect to  FIG. 12  to provide additional adjustability. 
         [0051]    The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.