Container holder for a trim panel

A trim panel includes a container holder operably coupled to a storage area. A scuff plate is positioned below the trim panel. The scuff plate has a container receptacle.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a container holder. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a container holder for a trim panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Container holders are often provided at various locations within a vehicle. Some vehicles provide a container holder in a trim panel of the vehicle. However, the container holders typically provided in the trim panel of the vehicle often impede access to additional functionality of the trim panel, such as storage compartments. Further, large containers typically cannot be stored vertically in the container holder and must be placed horizontally in the storage area, thereby impeding use of the storage area. Accordingly, alternative container holder solutions are needed that do not impede access to the additional functionality of the trim panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a trim panel includes a container holder operably coupled to a storage area. A scuff plate is positioned below the trim panel. The scuff plate includes a container receptacle.

Embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features:the container holder further includes a rotating bezel;the container holder is configured to hold a single container when the rotating bezel is in a stowed position and a plurality of containers when the rotating bezel is in a deployed position;the deployed position of the rotating bezel positions the rotating bezel directly above a wall of the container receptacle in the scuff plate;the rotating bezel rotates about a fixed axis in a horizontal direction as the rotating bezel is transitioned between the stowed position and the deployed position;the trim panel is installed in a vehicle; andthe plurality of containers includes a first container and a second container.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a trim panel includes a container holder operably coupled to a storage area. The container holder includes a rotating bezel. The container holder is configured to hold a single container when the rotating bezel is in a stowed position and a plurality of containers when the rotating bezel is in a deployed position.

Embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features:the trim panel further includes a scuff plate positioned below the trim panel, wherein the scuff plate includes a container receptacle;the deployed position of the rotating bezel positions the rotating bezel directly above a wall of the container receptacle in the scuff plate;the rotating bezel rotates about a fixed axis in a horizontal direction as the rotating bezel is transitioned between the stowed position and the deployed position;the rotating bezel is semi-circular in shape;the plurality of containers includes a first container and a second container; andthe trim panel is a vehicle door trim panel.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a trim panel includes a container holder operably coupled to a storage area. The container holder includes a rotating bezel. The container holder is configured to hold a single container when the rotating bezel is in a stowed position and a plurality of containers when the rotating bezel is in a deployed position. A scuff plate is positioned below the trim panel. The scuff plate includes a container receptacle.

Embodiments of the third aspect of the present disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features:the deployed position of the rotating bezel positions the rotating bezel directly above a wall of the container receptacle in the scuff plate;the rotating bezel rotates about a fixed axis in a horizontal direction as the rotating bezel is transitioned between the stowed position and the deployed position;the rotating bezel is semi-circular in shape;the plurality of containers includes a first container and a second container; andthe trim panel is a vehicle door trim panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1-9, reference numeral20generally designates a vehicle. The vehicle20may be a wheeled motor vehicle, according to one embodiment. The vehicle20may include a trim panel24. The trim panel24may include a container holder28that is operably coupled to a storage area32. The container holder28includes a rotating bezel36. The container holder28is configured to hold a single container, such as a first container40, when the rotating bezel36is in a stowed position (FIG. 6) and a plurality of containers, such as the first container40and a second container44, when the rotating bezel36is in a deployed position (FIG. 7). The vehicle20and/or the trim panel24may further include a scuff plate48that is positioned below the trim panel24and includes a container receptacle52.

Referring again toFIG. 1, an interior56of the vehicle20is shown including a driver seat60and a passenger seat64positioned on either side of a center console68. The center console68may include various functionalities such as, one or more cup holders72, a gear shifting mechanism76, and a storage bin80. The vehicle20has one or more doors84positioned proximate the driver and passenger seats60,64. The door84of the vehicle20includes various features and functionalities, such as a speaker88, a door locking mechanism92, a door handle96, an armrest100, and the storage area32.

Referring now toFIG. 2, the various features and functionalities provided in the door84may be incorporated in the trim panel24to present a user of the vehicle20with an aesthetically pleasing yet functional package. The speaker88is shown positioned in a forward lower quadrant of the trim panel24. The door locking mechanism92and the door handle96are positioned near one another and towards an upper end of the trim panel24. The armrest100may include a supplemental storage area104, a door-closing handle108and an arm-resting portion112. The storage area32in the trim panel24is shown positioned below the armrest100and rearward of the speaker88. The storage area32may be commonly referred to as a map pocket. Conventional trim panels24may be equipped with the container holder28to retain the first container40within the designated area of the trim panel24. However, conventional trim panels24that are equipped with the container holder28often result in the storage area32being split to allow for the integration of the container holder28. Additionally, conventional trim panels24that are equipped with the container holder28may position the first container40in such a manner that access to the storage area32is impeded by the first container40. A recessed portion120of the storage area32becomes particularly difficult to access by the user when the first container40is a large container stowed in the container holder28. Further, conventional trim panels24that are equipped with the container holder28typically have a limited vertical distance between the container holder28and the armrest100that limits a height of the first container40that will fit within the designated area of the trim panel24.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the conventional trim panel24is shown from various cross-sectional views in the area around the container holder28and the storage area32. The container holder28is integrated into the trim panel24in such a way that the first container40is retained in the container holder28that is located within the storage area32and below the armrest100. The first container40, as depicted, is a large container that is difficult or impossible to remove from the container holder28without deforming the first container40. An attempt to remove the first container40from the container holder28may result in physical contact between the first container40and the armrest100at one or more positions along the armrest100, which may be referred to as armrest-interference points116. Accordingly, the height of the first container40is limited to a dimension that is less than the distance between a bottom of the container holder28and the armrest100. The height of the first container40, as depicted, is about equal to the distance between the bottom of the container holder28and the armrest100. Additionally, the presence of the first container40in the container holder28of the trim panel24may at least partially impedes the available and/or accessible storage space in the storage area32. The impediment presented by the first container40includes, but is not limited to, limiting a length of an item that a user wishes to store in the storage area32and additionally makes accessing the storage area32more difficult to the user.

Referring now toFIG. 5, the trim panel24is shown operably coupled to the door84of the vehicle20. The trim panel24includes walls configured to form the storage area32. The storage area32further includes the container holder28and the recessed portion120. In the depicted embodiment, the container holder28includes the rotating bezel36. The container holder28is also configured to hold a single container, such as the first container40, when the rotating bezel36is in a stowed position. The container holder28is configured to hold a plurality of containers, such as the first container40and the second container44, when the rotating bezel36is in a deployed position. The rotating bezel36is shown inFIG. 5in the deployed position and retaining the second container44. The scuff plate48is positioned below the trim panel24. The scuff plate48includes the container receptacle52that aids in retention of the second container44. When the rotating bezel36is in the deployed position, the rotating bezel36may be positioned directly above a wall124of the container receptacle52in the scuff plate48. The rotating bezel36rotates about a fixed axis in a horizontal direction as the rotating bezel36is transitioned between the stowed position and the deployed position. The rotating bezel36may be semi-circular in shape and/or generally C-shaped. When the rotating bezel36is in the deployed position, the rotating bezel36and the container receptacle52in the scuff plate48may be used to retain larger containers than the containers that would be otherwise capable of vertical storage in the container holder28. In other words, the second container44may be larger than the first container40and the second container44may have a height that would have prevented the second container44from being vertically stored in the container holder28. By providing the additional or alternative storage option for the containers40,44with the rotating bezel36and the container receptacle52, the user may store larger items in the storage area32and may be provided with easier access to the recessed portion120. While the trim panel24, container holder28, storage area32, rotating bezel36, scuff plate48, and the container receptacle52are shown as proximal to the passenger seat64, it is contemplated that the trim panel24, container holder28, storage area32, rotating bezel36, scuff plate48, and/or container receptacle52may be alternatively or additionally positioned within the vehicle20. For example, the trim panel24, container holder28, storage area32, rotating bezel36, scuff plate48, and/or container receptacle52may be positioned proximal the driver seat60or any other suitable location within the vehicle20. Additionally, the concepts disclosed herein may be used in environments or settings that are not within the vehicle20, which may include, but is not limited to, movie theaters, sports arenas, and so on.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, the trim panel24is shown with the rotating bezel36in the stowed position (FIG. 6) and the deployed position (FIG. 7). The first container40is retained in the container holder28of the storage area32. When the rotating bezel36is in the stowed position and the first container40is within the container holder28, the rotating bezel36provides additional lateral support to the first container40in a vertical direction. Said another way, the rotating bezel36vertically extends the container holder28when the rotating bezel36is in the stowed position. The rotating bezel36rotates in a lateral or horizontal direction as the rotating bezel36is transitioned between the stowed position and the deployed position. When the rotating bezel36is in the deployed position, the rotating bezel36may be positioned directly above the wall124of the container receptacle52in the scuff plate48. The fixed axis of rotation for the rotating bezel36to be transitioned between the stowed position and the deployed position is located at a first end128of the rotating bezel36. Accordingly, the rotating bezel36may be transitioned between the stowed position and the deployed position independent of whether the first container40is positioned in the container holder28of the storage area32.

Referring again toFIGS. 6 and 7, while the rotating bezel36is shown as rotating about an axis located at the first end128of the rotating bezel36such that the rotating bezel36engages with a vehicle forward portion of the second container44(FIG. 8), it is contemplated that the rotating bezel36may rotate about an axis positioned at a second end132of the rotating bezel36such that the rotating bezel36engages with a vehicle rearward portion of the second container44. However, it may be preferable for the rotating bezel36to engage the vehicle forward portion of the second container44since a driver of the vehicle20often has more control over sudden acceleration of the vehicle20than sudden braking of the vehicle20. Accordingly, the second container44may be provided with support in a longitudinal direction along the vehicle20that opposes the inertia of the second container44during rapid braking of the vehicle20.

Referring further toFIGS. 6 and 7, in some embodiments, the rotating bezel36may include a first rotating bezel and a second rotating bezel that further extend the container holder28in a vertical direction when the first rotating bezel and/or the second rotating bezel are in the stowed position. The first rotating bezel and the second rotating bezel may be operably coupled to the trim panel24and/or the container holder28at opposing ends such that the first rotating bezel rotates horizontally toward the container receptacle52about an axis at the first end128while the second rotating bezel rotates towards the container receptacle52about a fixed rotational axis that is positioned at the second end132such that the forward portion of the second container44is engaged by the first rotating bezel and the rearward portion of the second container44is engaged by the second rotating bezel to provide positive engagement to the second container44regardless of the direction of motion experienced by the second container44in response to maneuvers of the vehicle20(e.g., acceleration, braking, turning, etc.).

Referring now toFIGS. 8 and 9, the trim panel24is shown with the rotating bezel36in the deployed position. The first container40is retained by the container holder28in the storage area32. The second container44is retained by the rotating bezel36and the container receptacle52in the scuff plate48. The wall124of the container receptacle52provides additional and uninterrupted support to an outer edge136of the second container44. The continuous support provided by the wall124to the outer edge136may aid in preventing the second container44from becoming dislodged from the rotating bezel36and the container receptacle52as the vehicle20accelerates, brakes, turns, and generally performs vehicle maneuvers. The container receptacle52may further include a raised central portion140that is configured to support a recessed portion in the underside of the second container44that typically exists in travel containers (e.g., soft drink containers). Greater access to the recessed portion120of the storage area32is provided to the user as can be seen by the increased amount of space between the armrest100and an upper portion of the first container40. Additionally, the second container44may be of a substantially greater height than the first container40as can be seen with the available clearance between the armrest100and the upper portion of the second container44. Further, the rotating bezel36and the container receptacle52in the scuff plate48may be sufficiently laterally displaced from the armrest100of the trim panel24that the limiting factor in the vertical height of the second container44becomes a roof of the vehicle20rather than the armrest100or other components of the trim panel24.

Container holders28are often provided at various locations within the vehicle20. Some vehicles20provide the container holder28in the trim panel24of the vehicle20. However, the container holders28typically provided in the trim panel24of the vehicle20often impede access to additional functionality of the trim panel24, such as the storage area32. Further, large containers, such as the second container44typically cannot be stored vertically in the container holder28and must be placed horizontally in the storage area32, which thereby obstructs use of the storage area32. The rotating bezel36and the container receptacle52in the scuff plate48provide the user with the option of storing large containers such as the second container44, in an area that is removed from the trim panel24such that large items may be stored in the storage area32and/or the user is provided with easier access to the storage area32and the recessed portion120.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described concepts, and other components, is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the concepts disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.