Integrated electronic device holder for cup holder

A cup holder assembly includes a door configured for translation between an open and a closed configuration, at least one receiver sidewall, and at least one first cup holder surface provided by a bottom surface of the door and configured to upwardly extend at least a portion of the receiver sidewall when the door is disposed in an open configuration. A retention system for a container is provided, including at least one container biasing member and at least one container supporting member. The container biasing member may be door-mounted or receiver sidewall-mounted.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to vehicle cup holders. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a cup holder assembly including an integrated electronic device holder.

BACKGROUND

Cup holders provide great convenience to motor vehicle users, providing a receiver for containers such as cups, glasses, etc. whereby the user need not continually hold the container in her hand to avoid spillage during motor vehicle operation. With reference toFIG. 1, the typical cup holder100provides at least one receiver120configured and dimensioned to receive and hold a container (not shown) such as a beverage container. That receiver120may include a structure for reducing or preventing slippage or vibration of a container held therein, being as simple as one or more rubber pads or more complex designs such as biasable mechanical fingers (not shown). A pivoting, sliding, or otherwise translatable lid or door140may also be provided to hide the receivers120when not in use.

For convenience, users often stow items other than beverage containers in the receivers120of a cup holder100. For example, users may wish to set electronic devices160such as smartphones, cell phones, small tablet computers, etc. in a cup holder for easy access. Conventional cup holders100do not include suitable holders for such electronic devices, raising issues of safety and potential damage to items held loosely in a receiver120not dimensioned for that item.

To solve this and other problems, the present disclosure relates to a cup holder assembly for installation in a vehicle. The cup holder assembly includes an integrated holder configured to securely hold an electronic device, for example a smartphone. Advantageously, the disclosed cup holder assembly provides that holder suitably dimensioned for holding an electronic device, without occupying any of the beverage container receivers. Still further, the described holder is configured to allow access to a full central axis of the electronic device, thus allowing simple and safe actions such as powering the device on or off without removing the device from the holder.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, in one aspect a cup holder assembly for a vehicle is provided, comprising at least one beverage container receiver and at least one integral electronic device holder comprising a slot dimensioned and configured for holding an electronic device. The at least one beverage container receiver is defined by at least one sidewall and a floor, and the slot comprises at least one sidewall and a floor.

In embodiments, the integral electronic device holder floor is raised relative to the beverage container floor. The slot sidewall in embodiments comprises at least one gap defined therein. In alternative embodiments, the at least one integral electronic device holder further includes a resilient electronic device retainer that imposes a biasing force on an electronic device held therein.

In other aspects, vehicle consoles and vehicles including the described cup holder assembly are provided.

In the following description, there are shown and described embodiments of the disclosed cup holder assembly. As it should be realized, the device is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the devices and methods as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosed cup holder assembly, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIG. 2, a cup holder assembly200incorporated into a vehicle center console structure210is shown including at least one receiver120dimensioned and configured to snugly hold a beverage container (not shown), substantially as described above. In the depicted embodiment, two such receivers120are provided, each including internal mechanically biasable fingers220to further provide snug retention of a beverage container held therein. The two receivers120share a common floor230, although it is contemplated to have two discrete receivers120separated by an intervening wall (not shown).

As shown, the cup holder assembly200further includes at least one integrated holder240, defined by a slot260suitably dimensioned for holding an electronic device such as a smart phone (not shown). Each slot260is defined by at least a side wall280and a floor300. As can be seen in the drawings, the floor300of each slot260is raised relative to the receiver floor230. As will be appreciated, this structure defines a holder240which holds an electronic device such as a smartphone in a raised position relative to the cup holder assembly floor230, improving ease of access to the electronic device by a user.

Each slot side wall280is interrupted by at least one gap320extending from a top of the side wall280to the receiver floor300. In the depicted embodiment, one slot260includes a side wall280interrupted by a single gap320, and another slot260includes a side wall280interrupted by a pair of opposed gaps320. As will be appreciated with reference toFIG. 3, this structure allows access to a central portion of an electronic device160such as a smartphone, cell phone, small tablet computer, and other devices, thereby improving ease and convenience of simple and safe actions such as powering the device160on or off without requiring removing the device from the holder. This is so even if the electronic device160and one or more beverage containers (not shown) are held in the cup holder assembly200concurrently.

In an alternative embodiment shown inFIG. 4, a resilient electronic device retainer340is provided within each slot260. As will be appreciated, this resilient electronic device retainer340provides a benefit of shock protection for an electronic device (not shown) held thereon. In turn, because the electronic device retainer340is resilient and compressible, slot260is thereby configured to hold electronic devices of a variety of thicknesses, heights, etc. Any suitable material is contemplated for fabrication of the electronic device retainer340, including without intending any limitation suitably resilient cloths, rubbers, plastics, polymers, and others.

Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the depicted embodiments of the cup holder assembly200show substantially cylindrical receivers120, but alternative geometries for the receivers are possible and contemplated. Likewise, the depicted embodiments of the cup holder assembly200show two receivers120and two holders240, but fewer or more receivers and/or holders are of course possible and contemplated. The depicted embodiments show a cup holder assembly200configured for installation in a vehicle center console, but alternative configurations are contemplated for installation in a vehicle door, dash panel, etc. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.