A cupholder is provided. The cupholder preferably includes a fixed cupholder and a reversible cupholder pivotally attached with and nested within the fixe cupholder. The reversible cupholder may be configured to be pulled inside out such that a surface of the reversible cupholder in contact with the fixed cupholder when nested defines an interior cavity of the reversible cupholder when inside out, and positioned next to the fixed cupholder.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a cupholder for motor vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Motor vehicles typically include cupholders sufficiently configured to retain a beverage container for the convenience of the occupants of the vehicle. The cupholders are typically built into, or attached to one or more interior components of the vehicle such as a dash panel, door, or center console of the vehicle. In some locations, such as a center console positioned between two bucket seats, the cupholder may be limited to storing only a certain number of beverages and other articles.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of this disclosure a cupholder is provided. The cupholder preferably includes a fixed cupholder and a reversible cupholder pivotally attached with and nested within the fixed cupholder. The reversible cupholder may be configured to be pulled inside out such that a surface of the reversible cupholder in contact with the fixed cupholder when nested defines an interior cavity of the reversible cupholder when inside out, and positioned next to the fixed cupholder.

The reversible cupholder preferably includes four semi-rigid walls extending between a base and a top member. The four semi-rigid walls may further define a narrowed section disposed between the at least two recesses.

The reversible cupholder preferably includes a pull tab outwardly extending from the base to allow a user to pull the reversible cup inside out.

The reversible cupholder may be comprised of a material that has a modulus of elasticity that is at most half of a modulus of elasticity of the fixed cupholder.

The fixed cupholder preferably includes at least two protrusions outwardly extending from a top portion of the fixed cupholder. The protrusions preferably include at least two protrusions that define an aperture and are configured to receive a fastener for fixing the fixed cupholder to the console.

The fixed cupholder and the reversible cupholder may be connected by a living hinge.

According to another embodiment of this disclosure, a console including a fixed cupholder attached to the console and a reversible cupholder pivotally coupled to the fixed cupholder is provided. The reversible cupholder may include four semi-rigid walls defining an exterior surface and an interior surface and configured to move from a stowed position to a use position. When in the stowed position the reversible cupholder preferably nests within the fixed cupholder and the exterior surface is in contact with the fixed cupholder. When in the use position, the reversible cupholder is preferably positioned outside of the console and the interior surface is adjacent to the console.

The reversible cupholder and the fixed cupholder may be pivotally connected by a living hinge. The living hinge may include a first and a second elongated member connected by an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion preferably has a cross-sectional area less than a cross section defined by the first and second elongated members, wherein the first elongated member extends from the fixed cupholder and the second elongated member extends from the reversible cupholder and wherein the intermediate portion facilitates pivoting the reversible cupholder from the stowed position to the use position. The first elongated member preferably extends from the fixed cupholder and the second elongated member preferably extends from the reversible cupholder. The intermediate portion may facilitate pivoting the reversible cupholder from the stowed position to the use position.

According to yet another embodiment of this disclosure, a vehicle console including a fixed cupholder and a reversible cupholder pivotally coupled to the fixed cupholder is provided. The reversible cupholder may be nested within the fixed cupholder and may be configured to fold in on itself such that a surface of the reversible cupholder is in contact with the fixed cupholder when nested defines an interior cavity of the reversible cupholder and when inside out the reversible cupholder is positioned adjacent to the fixed cupholder.

The reversible cupholder preferably includes four semi-rigid walls extending between a base and a top member. The four semi-rigid walls may further define a narrowed section disposed between the at least two recesses.

The reversible cupholder preferably includes a pull tab outwardly extending from the base to allow a user to pull the reversible cup inside out.

The reversible cupholder may be comprised of a material that has a modulus of elasticity that is at most half of a modulus of elasticity of the fixed cupholder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Motor vehicles typically include cupholders that provide storage areas for beverages. The cupholders are typically built into, or attached to one or more interior components of the vehicle. In some locations, such as a center console positioned between two bucket seats, the cupholder may be limited to storing only a certain number of beverages and other articles. Additional cupholders may be included in a vehicle console or elsewhere in the vehicle but additional cupholders may occupy more space within the vehicle cabin.

It is advantageous to provide an additional cupholder or cupholders that may be stored somewhere within the interior as to not take up additional space. One such cupholder may be stowed away within a compartment within a vehicle console, seatback panel or a trim panel in the cabin. Other cupholders may be a part of a tray table that can be pivoted outwardly from the vehicle seat or console.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, an example of a vehicle center console10is illustrated. The center console10is preferably positioned between two bucket seats of a vehicle (not shown). The center console10has a cupholder assembly12including a permanent or fixed plastic cupholder11and a pliable or reversible cupholder13attached to the fixed cupholder11. The fixed cupholder shown preferably extends between the sides of the console. Alternatively, the reversible cupholder13may be connected directly to the center console10. The fixed or permanent cupholder11is disposed within an aperture defined by the center console. The fixed cupholder11includes recessed portions20a,20b(FIG. 3) to hold or receive beverage containers or other articles.

Referring specifically toFIGS. 2A-2C, an illustration of the operation of the pliable or reversible cupholder assembly12is shown.FIG. 2-A shows the reversible cupholder13in the stowed position. In the stowed position the reversible cupholder13nests within the fixed cupholder11. In this position the apparatus may hold up to two beverage containers or other suitable articles. The exterior surface19of the reversible cupholder13is positioned adjacent to the permanent cupholder11and the interior surface17is the surface that receives the beverage container or article. InFIG. 2-B, the reversible cupholder12outwardly extends above the fixed cupholder11as the reversible cupholder13is moved from the stowed position (FIG. 2-A) to the use position (FIG. 2-C). Between the stowed position (FIG. 2A) and the extended position shown inFIG. 2B, the reversible cupholder13folds in on itself from inside to out. In the extended position and use position, the interior surface17is external to the external surface and is positioned next to the outer portion of the center console. In both of these positions, the external surface19is the surface on which the beverage containers or other suitable articles would rest on. Referring toFIG. 2-C, the reversible cupholder13is shown pivoting from its extended position (2-B) to a use position (FIG. 3). The reversible cupholder13pivots about a living hinge16(FIGS. 3-4).

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, top and bottom views of the cupholder assembly12in the use position are illustrated. The fixed cupholder11is formed by four continuous walls26extending between a lip or top portion27and a base18. The fixed cupholder preferably includes a first recess20aand a second recess20b, each configured to hold a beverage container. At least one indent22is formed within the base of at least one of the recesses,20aand20b. An intermediary space24is formed by the four walls26. The intermediary space24and the indent22may be used to hold a mobile phone or other suitable device. Protrusions14extend from the lip27of the fixed cupholder11. The protrusions may include holes or apertures for fastening the fixed cupholder11to the console10.

A living hinge or integrated hinge16connects the fixed cupholder11with the reversible cupholder13. The living hinge16includes an elongated top member16aconnected to the lip27of the fixed cupholder11to an elongated top member16bof the reversible cupholder13. A living hinge is a term that is well known in the art and may be a thin flexible hinge (flexure bearing) made from the same material as the two rigid pieces it connects, rather than cloth, leather, or some other flexible substance.

The living hinge preferably provides sufficient force to move allow the pliable or reversible cupholder13to pivot based on its own weight in response to being extended out of the fixed cupholder. The elongated top member of the fixed cupholder16aand the elongated top member attached to the reversible or pliable cupholder13each have a cross sectional area sufficient to provide a durable connection. The living hinge preferably has a cross sectional area that is less than the cross sectional area defined by the each of the elongated top members16aand16b.

The reversible cupholder13has a nearly identical shape and size as the fixed cupholder and is configured to be nested within the fixed cupholder11. The reversible cupholder13is formed by a semi-rigid wall36extending between a base28and a lip37. The semi-rigid wall36is configured to pull the flexible cupholder13inside when the semi-rigid walls collapse on themselves. The material of the flexible cupholder13will be described in greater detail below. The reversible cupholder13preferably includes a first recess30aand a second recess30b, each configured to hold a beverage container. At least one indent32is formed within the base of at least one of the recesses,30aand30b.

An intermediary space34is formed by the four semi-rigid walls36. The intermediary space34may allow a user to store other items besides beverage containers. Referring to specifically toFIG. 3, the exterior surface19of the reversible cupholder is shown in the extended position. A pull tab36(FIG. 4) extends from the exterior surface19of the reversible cupholder13. The pull tab38allows a user or operator to conveniently grasp the exterior surface19of the reversible cupholder13to pull the reversible cupholder13from the stowed position to the extended or use position.

Referring specifically toFIGS. 3 and 4, a method of making the cupholder assembly12will be described. More specifically, the cupholder assembly12is formed by a two-shot molding operation. Either of the fixed cupholder11or the reversible cupholder13is formed by a first shot mold and the second shot molds the other of the fixed cupholder11or reversible cupholder13. The fixed cupholder11may be constructed from a number of materials such as Acrylonitrile Butadlene and Styrene (ABS), Polypropelene (PP), Thermoplastic olefin (TPO), and a mixture of Polycarbonate (PC) and ABS. The reversible cupholder13is preferably made of a material that includes an elastomer and a thermoplastic material (e.g., thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Rubber (EPDM), or cross-linked styrene-ethylene butylene-styrene (SEBS)). The living hinge16including an elongated top member16aconnected to the lip27of the fixed cupholder11to an elongated top member16bof the reversible cupholder13is preferably made from one of the materials listed above.