Apparatus including inductive charger and retractable cup holder

An apparatus includes a base, an inductive charger, concealed under the base for charging an electronic device wirelessly, and a retractable cup holder. The retractable cup holder is displaceable between a home position recessed and nested within the base and a deployed position overlying the base for stably supporting the side of a tall drink cup, drink bottle, can or other item.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a new and improved apparatus including an inductive charger, for charging electronic devices wirelessly, and a retractable cup holder displaceable between a home position and a deployed position for holding cups, bottles and the like.

BACKGROUND

Occupants of motor vehicles often travel with tall drink cups, cans or containers and various electronic devices such as cell phones and navigation devices.

This document relates to a new and improved apparatus that incorporates an inductive charger for charging electronic devices commonly carried by motor vehicle occupants as well as a retractable cup holder that is displaceable between a storage or home position and a deployed position for holding tall cups, cans, bottles and the like. Advantageously, the apparatus provides significant functionality and versatility for various applications while occupying a minimal amount of room on a center console and displaying an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein a new and improved apparatus is provided. That apparatus comprises a base, an inductive charger carried on the base and a retractable cup holder displaceable between a home position and a deployed position.

The retractable cup holder may include an actuator to displace the retractable cup holder between the home position and the deployed position. That actuator may comprise a drive motor and a drive gear. In addition, a cooperating drive rack may be provided on the retractable cup holder. The drive gear engages the drive rack in order to displace the retractable cup holder as desired by the user.

More specifically, the retractable cup holder may include a first retaining ring. Further, the retractable cup holder may include a first support stanchion. Further, the retractable cup holder may include a second support stanchion.

In addition, the retractable cup holder may include a second retaining ring. In such an embodiment, the retractable cup holder may include a bridge extending between the first retaining ring and the second retaining ring. The drive rack may depend or extend from the bridge.

The base may include a support surface. Further, the base may include a first receiver. The drive rack may pass through the first receiver to the actuator, positioned below the base, where it is concealed from view.

The base may include a second receiver. The first retaining ring may be held in the second receiver when the retractable cup holder is in the home position.

Still further, the base may include a third receiver. The second retaining ring may be held in the third receiver when the retractable cup holder is in the home position.

Still further, the base may include a fourth receiver. The first support stanchion may pass through the fourth receiver. Still further, the base may include a fifth receiver. The second support stanchion may pass through the fifth receiver.

The inductive charger may be concealed from view under the base. The inductive charger may include a first transmitter coil located inside the second receiver. In one or more embodiments, the inductive charger may include a second transmitter coil located inside the second receiver.

The apparatus may also include a decorative trim piece or housing margin extending around the support surface of the base. That support surface may be recessed with respect to the housing margin. That recessed support surface may be sized and shaped to receive and hold an electronic device such as a cell phone in a charging position on the support surface overlying the inductive charger when the retractable cup holder is retracted or displaced into the home position.

In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the apparatus. As it should be realized, the apparatus is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the apparatus 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 the present preferred embodiments of the apparatus, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made toFIGS. 1-4illustrating the new and improved apparatus10which is adapted to (a) hold a drink cup C or a bottle, can or other tall item as illustrated inFIG. 4or (b) charge an electronic device D such as the cell phone, illustrated inFIG. 3by means of a wireless charging feature described in greater detail below.

As illustrated best in drawingFIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus10includes a base12. The base12includes a support surface14. A trim panel or housing margin16extends around the support surface14. The support surface14is recessed with respect to the housing margin16so as to function as a tray for holding an electronic device D on the support surface14within the housing margin16as illustrated inFIG. 3.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus10also includes an inductive charger18that is concealed from view under the base12. Such an inductive charger18is of a type known in the art to function as a charger for the power supply or batteries of an overlying electronic device D such as illustrated in Figure D.

The apparatus10also includes a retractable cup holder, generally designated by reference numeral20. The retractable cup holder20is displaceable between a retracted or home position illustrated inFIG. 2and an extended, raised or deployed position illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 4.

More specifically, the retractable cup holder20further includes an actuator22to displace the retractable cup holder between the home and deployed positions. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator22comprises a drive motor24and a drive gear26. SeeFIG. 5.

In the illustrated embodiment, the retractable cup holder includes a first retaining ring28, a second retaining ring30and a bridge32between and connecting the first retaining ring and the second retaining ring. The first retaining ring28and the second retaining ring30are both adapted to receive and support a cup C, a can, a bottle or other tall item as illustrated inFIG. 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the first retaining ring28is the same size or diameter as the second retaining ring30. In other embodiments the rings28,30may be of different size. Further, fewer or more retaining rings may be provided, depending on the desired application.

A first support stanchion34depends from the first retaining ring28. A second support stanchion36extends or depends from the second retaining ring30. A drive rack38depends from the bridge32. As shown inFIG. 5, the drive rack38meshes with the drive gear26in a manner that allows the drive motor24to displace the retractable cup holder20between the retracted or home position illustrated inFIG. 2and the raised or deployed position illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 4.

As best illustrated inFIG. 1, the base12includes a first receiver40, a second receiver42, a third receiver44, a fourth receiver46and a fifth receiver48. The drive rack38passes through the first receiver40or opening in order to engage with the drive gear26. Here it should be noted that the drive gear26and drive motor24of the actuator22are located beneath the support surface14of the base12where they are concealed from view and protected somewhat from dirt and debris.

The first retaining ring28is held in or nests in the second receiver42or channel when the retractable cup holder20is in the home position illustrated inFIG. 2. Similarly, the second retaining ring30is held in or nested in the third receiver44or channel when the retractable cup holder is in the home position as illustrated inFIG. 2.

The first support stanchion34slides through the fourth receiver46or opening as the retractable cup holder20is displaced between the home and deployed positions. Similarly, the second support stanchion36slides through the fifth receiver48or aperture as the retractable cup holder20is displaced between the home and deployed positions.

When the retractable cup holder20is in the fully deployed position illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 4, it should be appreciated that the distal end of the first support stanchion34and the distal end of the second support stanchion36are received and engaged in the respective fourth and fifth receivers46,48of the base12. The engagement of the drive rack38by the drive gear26and the first and second support stanchions34,36with the fourth and fifth receivers46,48, respectively, function together to stably support the retractable cup holder20when the retractable cup holder is in the raised or deployed position illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 4. This allows the retractable cup holder20to support a cup C (seeFIG. 4) in a manner that prevents the cup from tipping over when subjected to acceleration, deceleration and lateral cornering forces that might be produced during normal driving of a motor vehicle.

The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the inductive charger18includes a first transmitter coil52located inside the area inscribed by the second receiver42. Further, the inductive charger18includes a second transmitter coil54located inside the area inscribed by the third receiver44. Here it should be appreciated that the inductive charger18may assume an alternative design such as a single coil if desired. 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.