Vehicle beverage holder assembly

A beverage container holder may include a beverage container receptacle, a gimbal set including outer, middle and inner gimbals surrounding and connected to the receptacle to correct a position of the receptacle in response to an external force, and an inner cover extending from the inner gimbal and having a first position extending over at least a portion of the middle gimbal and a second position contacting the middle gimbal to inhibit the external force.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Disclosed herein are vehicle beverage holder assemblies.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles often include cup holders therein to increase user satisfaction and decrease spills during use of the vehicle. Vehicle cup holders may be arranged in a various consoles within the vehicle such as front seat consoles, rear seat consoles, etc. Cup holders may also be arranged within doors of the vehicle and on a floor of the vehicle.

SUMMARY

A beverage container holder may include a beverage container receptacle, a gimbal set including outer, middle and inner gimbals surrounding and connected to the receptacle to correct a position of the receptacle in response to an external force, and an inner cover extending from the inner gimbal and having a first position extending over at least a portion of the middle gimbal and a second position contacting the middle gimbal to inhibit the external force.

A vehicle beverage holder may include a receptacle configured to receive a beverage container, a gimbal surrounding and rotatably fixed to the receptacle to correct a position of the receptacle in response to an external force, and a weight arranged at a bottom of the receptacle to counteract the external force and to inhibit the external force.

A beverage holder may include a receptacle configured to receive a beverage container, a gimbal set including outer, middle and inner gimbals surrounding and connected to the receptacle to correct a position of the receptacle in response to an external force, and an inner cover extending from the inner gimbal and, in a first position, covering a portion of the middle gimbal and an outer cover extending from the outer gimbal and covering another portion of the middle gimbal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Vehicles often contain several beverage holders to hold cans, coffee cups, water bottles, etc. Some beverage containers are arranged in vehicle consoles, in vehicle doors, and on vehicle floors. Often times, to completely prevent spilling, beverage containers must contain a lid. This is especially the case during vehicle operation where changes in acceleration, deceleration, etc., may cause liquid within the can or cup to spill.

Described herein is a vehicle beverage container assembly including a stabilizing mechanism such as a gimbal assembly. The gimbal assembly may surround a receptacle configured to hold a beverage container such as a can, plastic bottle, insulated cup, etc. The gimbal assembly may be configured to maintain the receptacle at a position level with gravity (e.g., at a normal position), while the gimbals of the gimbal assembly move with respect to one another to account for various forces and inclines imposed by and on the vehicle. For example, the gimbal assembly may maintain the receptacle at a position level with gravity even during vehicle acceleration and braking where the receptacle may be subjected to various momentums that may typically cause the beverage therein to spill. The gimbal assembly may also maintain the receptacle at a position level with gravity while the vehicle travels upward at an incline (e.g., up a hill). Thus, the gimbal assembly may account for various external and dynamic forces and maintain the receptacle in the center thereof to prevent liquid from spilling from the beverage container.

The beverage holder assembly may include a cover arranged around the gimbal to prevent objects, dirt, etc., from coming into contact with the gimbal assembly. Furthermore, the cover may act as a stop to prevent the receptacle from over compensation or overcorrection. A weight may be arranged at or on the bottom of the receptacle below the rotational axis center to ensure that the receptacle will rebalance in a position level with gravity after a dynamic force is recognized by the gimbal assembly.

FIG. 1illustrates an example beverage holder assembly100configured to maintain a beverage container102therein. The beverage holder assembly100may include an outer frame104and a cover106having an inner cover108and an outer cover110, both of which are discussed in more detail herein. The beverage holder assembly100may be arranged within a vehicle and may be configured to prevent spilling of the contents within the beverage container102.

FIG. 2illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the beverage holder assembly100with the outer frame104and cover106removed. The outer frame104may be a floor console configured to be arranged on a floor of the vehicle. The beverage holder assembly100may include a receptacle118defining an opening120at a rim for receiving the beverage container102(not shown inFIG. 2). The opening120may be of an appropriate size to receive various sizes of beverage containers such as cans, water bottles, coffee cups, etc. The beverage holder assembly100may include a gimbal assembly124surrounding the opening120.

The gimbal assembly124may include a first outer gimbal126A, a second middle gimbal126B, and a third inner gimbal126C, collectively referred to herein as gimbals126. The gimbals126may be rings configured to fit one inside another. The gimbals126may be connected to one another by a plurality of pivots130(as shown as pivots130A,130B and130C). A pair of first outer pivots130A may be arranged between the first outer gimbal126A and the outer frame104(not shown inFIG. 2). The first outer pivots130A may be arranged at opposite ends of each other and may facilitate rotational movement of the first outer gimbal126A with respect to the outer frame104.

The second middle pivots130B may be arranged between the first outer gimbal126A and the second middle gimbal126B. The second middle pivots130B may facilitate rotational movement of the second middle gimbal126B with respect to the first outer gimbal126A and third inner gimbal126C. The third inner pivots130C may be arranged between the second middle gimbal126B and the third inner gimbal126C. The third inner pivots130C may facilitate rotational movement of the third inner gimbal126C with respect to the second middle gimbal126B. While three gimbals126are shown and described herein, more or less gimbals126may be included as part of the gimbal assembly124. A fourth inner pivot130D may connect the third inner gimbal126C to the receptacle118.

FIG. 3Aillustrates an example gimbal assembly124in a static state where all three gimbals126are aligned.FIG. 3Billustrates an example gimbal assembly124in a dynamic state where the gimbals126are rotatable at a yaw axis Y, roll axis R and pitch axis P. By mounting the gimbals126to each other via the pivots130, the gimbal assembly124may rotate irrespective of the receptacle118. Furthermore, the gimbals126may rotate around the receptacle118.

FIG. 4illustrates a cross-sectional view of the beverage holder assembly100ofFIG. 1in a static position. As explained, the beverage holder assembly100may include a receptacle118configured to hold a beverage container102. The gimbal assembly124may be arranged around the opening120of the receptacle118. The gimbal assembly124, as explained above, may include gimbals126and pivots configured to allow for rotational movement of the gimbals with respect to one another.

As explained with respect toFIG. 1, the beverage holder assembly100may include a cover106including an inner cover108configured to be at least partially received by the outer cover110. The inner cover108may be arranged on and extending from the third inner gimbal126C. The inner cover108may form an arch-like shape such that the arch extends away from the opening120. The inner cover108may be configured to cover at least the third inner gimbal126C and at least a portion of the second middle gimbal126B.

The outer cover110may be arranged on and extending from the first outer gimbal126A. The outer cover110may form an arch-like shape such that the arch extends away from the outer frame104and opens towards the opening120. The outer cover110may be configured to cover at least the first outer gimbal126A and at least a portion of the second middle gimbal126B in a first position.

The outer cover110may be larger and extend higher than the inner cover108. A diameter D1of the arch of the outer cover110may be larger than a diameter D2of the arch of the inner cover108. In the static position, a distal end134of the inner cover108may be spaced from a distal end132of the outer cover110such that the distal end132of outer cover110may not abut the distal end134of the inner cover108. That is, during movement of the gimbals126, the inner and outer covers may move without obstructing or coming into contact with each other.

A weight136may be arranged at a bottom of the receptacle118. The weight136may be configured to counteract momentum of inertia created by external forces such as those created by vehicle motions (e.g., turning, accelerating, decelerating, etc.). The weight may aid the receptacle in returning to the normal position after recognizing a momentum created by the vehicle (e.g., a dynamic force such as braking) and inhibit the external forces. The weight136may be a steel washer, a steal plate, or other metal. The weight136may also be any other material that adds mass to the receptacle. In one example, the weight136may weigh approximately 0.22 lbs. The weight136may be soldered to the bottom of the receptacle118. It may also be placed within the receptacle, glued therein or thereto, etc.

FIG. 5illustrates another cross-sectional view of the beverage holder assembly100ofFIG. 1in a dynamic, or second position. During operation of the vehicle, the vehicle may be exposed to various changes in momentum and dynamic forces. Such changes and forces may be a result of acceleration, deceleration, turns, etc. Beverage containers, such as beverage container102, may be stowed with a vehicle cub holder and may be exposed to these changes in momentum. During acceleration, for example, the receptacle may realize a moment of inertia M whereby the receptacle moves within the gimbal assembly124. After an initial dynamic force is recognized, however, the gimbal assembly124and the weight136may counteract these changes in momentum by permitting the receptacle118to rotate with respect to the gimbals126and return to a normal position (e.g., a level position relative to gravity). The gimbal assembly124and weight136may allow the center of gravity to dictate the position of the receptacle118relative to the gimbals126and inhibit the movement by the external forces. By adjusting the position of the receptacle118, a fluid line F of the fluid within the beverage container102may be less affected by the changes in momentum, and spills therefrom may be prevented. Further, while some movement of the receptacle may be recognized in response to momentum created by the vehicle, the gimbal assembly124and the weight136may facilitate a smooth and relatively quick return to the normal position.

For example, inFIG. 5, a center of gravity C of the beverage container102may recognize a moment of inertia M in response to the vehicle increasing acceleration in a forward motion. In response to this, the receptacle118may tip backwards, opposite the forward motion of the vehicle. The weight136may counter the forward motion and apply a counter force at the receptacle to keep the receptacle from over compensating during the external dynamic force (e.g., forward motion of the vehicle). Because the gimbal assembly124permits the receptacle to maintain a position relative to its center of gravity, and because the weight136aids in returning the receptacle118to its normal position following a dynamic force, the beverage holder assembly100provides an efficient anti-spill system for vehicles.

Furthermore, the beverage holder assembly100may also react to variances in inclines. For example, when a vehicle is traveling up a steep hill at an incline, the gimbal assembly124may permit the receptacle to stay level with respect to gravity, regardless of the vehicle's incline. That is, the fluid line L may be level, even though the vehicle, and subsequently the outer frame104, is not.

As shown inFIG. 5, the inner cover108and outer cover110may move with the third inner gimbal126C and the first outer gimbal126A, respectively. That is, as the first gimbal126A rotates, so does the outer cover110. The covers108,110may cover the gimbal assembly124from view of the user, creating a more aesthetically pleasing assembly. Furthermore, the covers108,110may protect the gimbal assembly124. For example, the covers108,110may prevent objects from getting caught within the gimbals126.

In addition to these features, the covers108,110may also function as a stop in the event of extreme overcorrecting by the gimbals126. In the example shown inFIG. 5, in the second position, the distal end132of the outer cover may abut the second middle gimbal126B if the middle gimbal126B continues to rotate upward.

FIG. 6illustrates an example force diagram showing a receptacle118and a beverage container102arranged therein in phantom. Similar toFIG. 5,FIG. 6illustrates a pivot130B, a fluid line L, a center of gravity C, and a momentum of inertia M. When the beverage container102is relatively full, that is, the fluid line L is close to the top of the beverage container102(e.g., approximately at least 75% full), the center of gravity C may be below the location of the pivots130. When the vehicle changes momentum, and in this example when the vehicle brakes, the momentum of inertia M may be recognized. The higher the deceleration of the vehicle caused by the braking, the higher the momentum of inertia M. Upon braking, the weight136may generate an inertial force F.

Accordingly, a beverage container assembly for a vehicle is disclosed herein for stabilizing a receptacle thereof via a gimbal assembly and a weight arranged at a bottom of the receptacle. While the examples described herein relate to vehicles, and specifically automobiles, other vehicles such as boats, motorcycles, bicycles, etc., may also appreciate the assemblies described herein.