Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for holding a drink container, such as a cup, mug or bottle, of different diameters in the interior of a passenger car. To afford ready accessibility while taking up little space, a coupling device, into which a bottle holder or cup holder can be inserted and removed therefrom, on the center console or on a seat. Other containers, such as a refuse container or tray can also be inserted into the coupling device.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This application claims the priority of German patent document 101 36 115.7, filed Jul. 26, 2001 and German patent document 102 23 404.3, filed May 25, 2002, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.  
           [0002]    The invention relates to an apparatus for holding drinks containers in a passenger vehicle.  
           [0003]    German utility model G 94 08 692.3 discloses a device for holding drinks containers in a motor vehicle, which has an expandable spring ring, into which a drink container can be clamped. Fixed to the spring ring is a clippable holder for clipping onto the seat adjustment operating handle, for example. This device only has a low retaining force; moreover, it can be used only for drink containers of a size that matches that of the spring ring. In addition, this device adversely affects the ability of the seat occupant to adjust the seat, and constitutes a serious hazard, in the event of a crash, since the device can then become detached and fly around uncontrollably inside the vehicle.  
           [0004]    German patent document DE 199 59 895 A1 shows a motor vehicle seat having a drawer that includes a cup holder, which is accessible after pulling the drawer open. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that it greatly restricts the foot well space when the cup holder is in use.  
           [0005]    German patent document DE 40 22 193 A1 describes a device for holding a drink container that is arranged in the center console of a vehicle, and has an annular holder that is pivotally supported by way of a swivel device on the center console. When not in use, the device is swiveled into a stowage compartment arranged in the center console; for use, it is swiveled out of the stowage compartment. A disadvantage of this device is that it will only hold drink containers of a shape that matches that of the holder; moreover, the device itself takes up a relatively large amount of space in the center console when not in use, and is of relatively expensive design.  
           [0006]    One object of the invention is to create a device for holding drink containers in the interior of a passenger car, which is of simple design and compact construction.  
           [0007]    Another object of the invention is to provide a device that will reliably hold various types of drink containers. Finally, still another object of the invention is to provide a drink holder that poses the least possible hazard, particularly in the event of an accident.  
           [0008]    These and other objects and advantages are achieved by the drink holder apparatus according to the invention, which includes a coupling device, into which a so-called bottle or cup holder can be optionally inserted and also taken out again. In order not to impinge to any great extent on the space available, the coupling device may be arranged at the rear end of the center console, so that it projects beyond the center console into the rear compartment.  
           [0009]    In order to ensure that the bottle holder or cup holder is readily accessible while underway, it is also proposed to arrange the coupling device on the frame of a seat, so that it projects forward of the seat cushion and points into the foot well forward of the seat. The coupling device holds the bottle holder or cup holder in the foot well, preferably in the right or left-hand area of the seat. It may be arranged on the driver&#39;s seat, and/or on the front passenger seat, and/or on the rear seat bench for the rear seat passengers.  
           [0010]    When not in use, the bottle holder can simply be taken out of the coupling device and then does not take up any additional space.  
           [0011]    In order to minimize the risk of injury in the event of a crash, the coupling device and/or the bottle holder is supported so that it can pivot about a vertical axis. Therefore, if a passenger comes into contact with the bottle holder, it moves out of the way. The pivotal support furthermore improves the accessibility of the cup holder, since it can be swiveled into a position where it is easy to reach.  
           [0012]    In one embodiment, the coupling device has a socket, into which a spindle of the bottle holder or cup holder can be inserted from above. The socket may have a shape designed to complement the spindle, so that it exerts a frictional grip around the spindle, thereby holding it and the bottle holder securely in the socket even under high loads. The socket may have a manual or automatic catch device, which locates the spindle securely in the socket.  
           [0013]    In order to hold even heavy drinks containers, such as bottles, securely, the bottle holder preferably has a cup-shaped drink container receptacle with a circular internal cross section and a base. For holding differently shaped drink containers securely, it is possible to introduce an insert, having a number of different inside diameters, into the drink container receptacle. The insert is preferably designed so that the smallest inside diameter is arranged toward its base, and the largest inside diameter is at the top.  
           [0014]    In an advantageous embodiment the drink container receptacle has leaf springs for holding containers by frictional contact, three such leaf springs being arranged around the inside wall of the receptacle. The upper end of the leaf springs can be fixed so that it bears on the inside wall or is sunk in the inside wall. The lower end points towards the middle of the drink container receptacle, so that the leaf springs each have a sprung, inclined surface, which grips a drink container when it is inserted. The leaf springs are arranged so that they cause the drink container receptacle to narrow towards the bottom, so that differently shaped drink containers of various sizes (cups or mugs or bottles or drinks cans, for example), can be held in by frictional contact.  
           [0015]    In another embodiment, instead of holding a bottle holder or cup holder, the coupling device also be capable of holding another container or holder, such as a refuse container or a tray, for example, which each have a similarly shaped spindle to the cup holder.  
           [0016]    The features and combinations of features referred to above and cited below may of course be used not only in the particular combination specified but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.  
           [0017]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention for holding drink containers in the front area of a passenger car interior;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 shows a vehicle seat with coupling device and cup or bottle holder;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 shows a device for holding drink containers in the rear area of a passenger car interior;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 shows a center console with a coupling device and bottle holder;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view through the cup or bottle holder; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 shows a section along the line A-A in FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the front section of an interior of a passenger car with a device  1  for holding drinks containers. A dashboard  11  is arranged at the front of the interior below the windshield. In the middle of the interior, a center console  3  is arranged between a driver&#39;s seat  2   a  and a front passenger seat  2   b . The center console  3  extends in the middle area of the vehicle interior below the dashboard, from the engine compartment rear bulkhead, closing off the vehicle interior towards the front, to a rear compartment  13  beginning behind the backrests  22  of the front seats  2   a ,  2   b . The center console, which is a dished, standardized plastic part, contains operating control elements needed for operating the vehicle. These include, for example, a gearshift lever or controls for operating electric window lifters.  
         [0025]    On either side of the center console  3  and in front of the seats  2   a ,  2   b  is a foot well  12 , the driver&#39;s foot well being situated in front of the driver&#39;s seat  2   a  and the front passenger foot well in front of the front passenger seat  2   b . The front passenger seat  2   b  has a coupling device  41 , which holds a cup holder or bottle holder  4 , which in the front passenger foot well is arranged in front of the seat cushion  21  of the front passenger seat  2   b.    
         [0026]    The structure of the front passenger seat  2   b  is represented in FIG. 2. The front passenger seat  2   b  is slide-mounted by way of rails on the floor of the vehicle interior. A frame  23  carries the seat cushion  21  and holds the seat on the rails. A backrest  22 , which has a headrest, is arranged at the rear end of the front passenger seat  2   b.    
         [0027]    The coupling device  41  is fixed to the frame  23 , either rigidly supported so that it is pivotable about an axis, in particular about a vertical axis perpendicular to the vehicle floor. The coupling device  41  is designed so that it projects beyond the dimensions of the seat cushion  21  into the foot well  12 . At its end facing towards the foot well  12 , the coupling device  41  has a socket  42  (FIG. 4), which holds a bottle holder  4  with drink container receptacle  45 . The coupling device  41  is designed so that the bottle holder  4  or the drink container receptacle  45  is arranged above the interior floor and below the seat surface of the seat cushion  21 .  
         [0028]    The device  1  for holding drink containers in the rear area of the vehicle interior is represented in FIG. 3. The backrests of the driver&#39;s seat  2   a  and of the front passenger seat  2   b  divide the rear section from the front section represented in FIG. 1. A rear seat bench  24  defines the rear part of the vehicle interior. The rear compartment  13  is situated between the rear seat bench and the backrests of the front seats. A transmission tunnel  15  runs in the middle of the vehicle interior from front to rear and divides the foot well area of the rear compartment  13  into a left-hand and a right-hand section, and the center console  3  is arranged between the front seats  2   a ,  2   b  above the transmission tunnel. Depending on the position of the front seats, the rear end of the center console  3  ends approximately flush with the backrests of the front seats  2   a ,  2   b  and therefore directly adjoins the rear compartment  13 .  
         [0029]    At its rear end the center console  3  has two coupling devices  41 , which each hold a cup holder or bottle holder  4 . The coupling devices  41  are at one end articulated on the rear end of the center console  3  so that they can swivel about a vertical axis perpendicular to the interior floor. At their other end projecting into the rear compartment the coupling devices  41  have a socket  42  (FIG. 4) for fixing a cup holder or bottle holder  4  with drinks container receptacle  45 . The coupling devices  41  are designed so that the cup holder or bottle holder  4 , or the drink container receptacle  45  is arranged above the transmission tunnel. The cup holder or bottle holder  4  is therefore readily accessible without restricting the foot well space available in the rear compartment to the left and right of the transmission tunnel  15 .  
         [0030]    The pivotably supported coupling device  41  means that the cup holder or bottle holder  4  can swivel away laterally in the event of an accident, so that it does not constitute a rigid obstruction, thereby reducing any risk of injury.  
         [0031]    The structure of the bottle holder  4  and of the coupling device  41  is shown in FIG. 4. The coupling device  41  has a cuboidal body, one end of which is here, for example, supported on the center console  3 , but it may also be supported on the frame  23  of a seat, as shown in FIG. 2. The other end of the cuboidal body is connected to the socket  42 . A spindle  49  of the cup holder  4  is accommodated in the socket  42 .  
         [0032]    The socket  42  has a shape that conforms to the circular cross section of the spindle  49 , so that the latter is held in the socket  42  by frictional contact, allowing it to rotate. As best seen in FIG. 6, the socket  42  has a catch device with spring  43  for locating the spindle  42 . The spring  43  has two retaining clips bent from spring wire, which grip the spindle  49  from two sides. The spindle  49  is inserted into the socket  42  from above. A plurality of transverse slots  44 , in which the spring  43  engages, thereby locating the spindle  49  to prevent it being accidentally detached, are arranged in the spindle. A stop, which interacts with the spring  43 , thereby defining the insertion depth of the spindle  49  and hence also the height of the cup holder  4 , is arranged at the bottom end of the spindle.  
         [0033]    At its upper end the spindle  49  is connected by way of a support arm  48  to the drink container receptacle  45  of the bottle holder  4 . The drink container receptacle  45  has a cup shape, that is to say it is open at the top, has a circular internal cross section, a circular external cross section, and a base. Three leaf springs  46  are distributed around the circumference of the inside wall of the drink container receptacle  45 . One end of each of the leaf springs  46  is fixed to the inside wall in the upper area of the drink container receptacle  45 , while the other end points towards the center of the drinks container receptacle  45 . Thus, the leaf springs  46  each form an inclined surface running from the upper wall of the drink container receptacle  45  downwards towards the center.  
         [0034]    When a drink container is inserted into the receptacle  45  from above, the inclined surfaces of the leaf springs  46  bear against it, and their spring force holds it in the receptacle by frictional contact. The opposing surfaces of the leaf springs  46  running downwards at an angle, so that they hold drink containers of different diameters and/or different shapes, such as cups or mugs or bottles or drinks cans, securely and reliably.  
         [0035]    The drink container receptacle  45  has two recesses in the side wall to accommodate the handles of cups or mugs placed in the drink container receptacle  45 .  
         [0036]    An insert  50 , which reduces the inside diameter of the drink container receptacle  45 , can be introduced into the drinks container receptacle  45 , and located therein by means of a catch device. The catch device has slots arranged on the inside wall of the drink container receptacle  45 , in which catch elements of the insert engage. In its wall, the insert  50  also has two opposing recesses for the handles of cups, which with the insert introduced into the drink container receptacle  45  align with recesses in the drink container receptacle  45 .  
         [0037]    The leaf springs  46  of the receptacle  45  hold the insert  50  therein by means of their inclined surfaces, which bear against the insert  50  and hold it by frictional contact.  
         [0038]    The inside diameter of the insert  50  narrows at step  47  towards the bottom. The drink container receptacle  45  therefore has a larger and smaller inside diameter for drinks containers of different sizes.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5 shows a section through the cup or bottle holder  4 . The drink container receptacle  45  is pivotally supported in a socket  42  of the coupling device  41  by way of a support arm  48  and a spindle  49 , fixed to the support arm so that it cannot rotate. The coupling device  41  is in turn fixed to the center console or to a seat.  
         [0040]    The insert  50  is inserted in the drink container receptacle  45 , and is held there by a catch device  52  that has a lug formed on the inside wall of the drink container receptacle  45 . A clip on the insert  50  grips behind the said lug.  
         [0041]    The insert  50  reduces the inside diameter of the drink container receptacle  45 , having two different diameters for holding drink containers of different shapes. Approximately half way up the insert a step  47  is formed projecting towards the middle of the bottle holder, so that the inside diameter of the insert  50  diminishes abruptly at the step  47 .  
         [0042]    In order to facilitate the insertion of drink containers into the bottle holder and/or their removal therefrom, the walls of the insert  50  are designed with a slight taper downwards towards the base.  
         [0043]    In the side wall of the insert  50 , at the position of each of the leaf springs  46 , recesses  54  are arranged through which the leaf springs  46  extend for holding the drinks containers.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 6 shows a section along the line A-A in FIG. 5. The spindle  49  is supported in the socket  42  so that it can swivel about its vertical axis. In order to permit a preferred position of the cup holder  4 , aligned in or counter to the direction of travel, for example, the spindle  49  is designed so that it can be located in such a position. At its bottom end the spindle  49  has a longitudinally extending slot  53 , which interacts with a spring  43 , which is fixed to the socket  42  and is formed so that it engages, locating in the slot  53 , when the spindle is situated in the desired position. The locating mechanism can be cancelled by overcoming the spring force of the spring  43 , and the cup holder  4  swiveled about the spindle  49 . In so doing, the spring  43  remains in contact with the spindle  49  and fixes its position through frictional wedging between the spindle  49  and the spring  43 . The spring  43  takes the form, in particular, of a leaf spring or a wire spring.  
         [0045]    The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.