VEHICLE CUPHOLDER

Abstract: A cupholder (20) has a cup well (36) to receive a container (66). The cup well (36) includes a base (46) and a wall (50). The wall (50) is positioned to intersect the base (46). A biasing member (60) is coupled with the wall (50). The biasing member (60) is adapted to contact a container (66) within the cup well (36). A positionable arm (40) is adjustable to contact and retain different sized containers (66) in the cup well (36).

Description: VEHICLE CUPHOLDER The present invention relates to vehicles and more particularly to cupholders for retaining liquid containers, such as cups and bottles, in the interior space of a vehicle. In a generation on the go, it is not uncommon for drivers to take beverage containers into their vehicles. Whether it be the morning coffee, a soft drink at lunch, or a water bottle, drivers and passengers arm taking their beverages with them while traveling in their vehicles. Accordingly, vehicle manufacturers, in an attempt to accommodate passengers, provide cup or drink holders in the vehicle interior space. The cup or drink holders range from simple molded cylinders to complex, squeezing fingers. While some of these cupholders are capable of accommodating more than one size container, they tall short of accommodating larger containers. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of prior art cupholders. The present invention provides the art with a cupholder which is adjustable to contact and retain numerous sizes of containers in the cupholder. The present invention provides a cupholder which applies at least three forces onto the container to retain it in the cupholder. The present invention also provides a cupholder which retains liquid which may accumulate through spillage or condensation. The cupholder enables easy cleanout. Further, the cupholder of the present invention provides members to retain containers, such as soft drink bottles which have recesses near their base, in a firm upright position. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, the appended claims and accompanying drawings, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a vehicle with cupholder, illustrated in phantom, according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the present invention in a vehicle interior space. Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the cupholder according to the present invention. Figure 4 is a top plan view of the cupholder of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a plan view like that of Figure 4 with the arm illustrated in phantom in several positions. Figure 6 is a cross-section view through Figure 5 along line 6-6 thereof. Figure 7 is a view like Figure 6 with a bottle retained in the cupholder. Figure 8a, 8b and 8c are top plan views of the cupholder with a container, of different size, retained within the cupholder. Turning to the figures, particularly Figure 1 , a vehicle is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral 10. The vehicle 10 includes an interior space 12. The interior space 12 has seats 14 as well as a dashboard 16, Figure 2. The dashboard 16 Includes a cupholder assembly 20. The cupholder assembly 20 includes a securement member 22 which is secured to the dashboard 16. A link hinge assembly 24 connects the securement member 22 with the cupholder member 26 at a main hinge 29. In Figures 1-3, the cupholder member 26 is shown in a down position. The cupholder member 26 may be pushed upward wherein a latch 28 catches the securement member catch or aperture 30. In the retracted position, the cupholder member 26 is flush with the dashboard 16. Handle 31 is actuated to release the latch 28 from the catch 30. The cupholder member 26 includes a pair of cupholders 32 and 34. The cupholders 32 and 34 are mirror images of one another. The cupholders 32 and 34 each include a cup wells 36 and 38 and movable arms 40 and 42. The cup wells 36 and 38 include a base 46 and 48 and a continuous wall 50 and 52 extending from the base 46, 48. The base 46, 48 and wall 50, 52 enable fluid to be caught and retained in the cup well 36, 38. The wall 50, 52 extends substantially perpendicular from the base 46, 48 and includes a first arcuate portion 54, 54', a substantially planar portion 56, 56' and a second arcuate portion 58, 58. The first arcuate portion 56, 56' extends from the side 27, 27' of the cupholder member 26 to the substantially planar member 56, 56'. The first arcuate portion 54 provides a path to enable the arm 40, 42 to pivot to close upon a container 66 within the cup well 36, 38. The planar wall portion 56, 56' includes a biasing member 60, 60'. The biasing member 60, 60' moves inward into the partition 64 between the pair of cup wells 36, 38. The biasing member 60, 60' includes an arcuate portion 62, 62' which biases against a container in the cup well 36, 38 creating a retention force on the container. Thus, as a container 66 is positioned in the cup well 36, 38 and the arm 40, 42 contacts the container, the biasing member 60, 60' applies a force onto the container. The biasing member 60, 60' is positioned a desired distance from the base 46, 48 to mate in a recess 68 in certain types of containers 66, such as plastic soda bottles as illustrated in Figure 7. The biasing member 60, 60' is positioned at about 38 millimeters from the base 46, 48 which enables the biasing member 60, 60' to project into the recess 68 to retain the container 66 within the cup well 38 as illustrated in Figure 7. The second arcuate portion 58, 58' extends towards the arm 40, 42 and is spaced a desired distance from the arm forming a mug handle gap 70, 70'. The gap 70, 70' enables a handle on a mug (not shown) to project out of the cup well 36, 38 and be easily grasped by the user. The arcuate portion 58 has a desired radius so that as the container 66 is positioned in the cup well, the second arcuate portion 58 contacts the container 66 to exert a retention force on the container 66. As can be seen in Figures 8a-8c, as the container 66 is retained in the cup well 36 by the arm 40, 42, biasing member 60, 60' and second arcuate portion 58, 58', these three members exert a retention force on the container to maintain the container 66 in the cupholder 32, 34. The arms 42 and 44 are elongated having a pivot end 72, 72' secured to the cupholder member 26 and a free end 74, 74' which moves into the cup well 36, 38. The arm 42, 44 has an external surface 76, 76' aligned with the side 27, 27' of the cupholder member 26 which includes an indention 78, 78' to receive a finger from the user to enable the arm 42, 44 to be moved into the cup well 36, 38. The arm 42, 44 also include an interior surface 80, 80' opposing the cop well wall 50, 52. The interior surface 80, 80' includes first 82, 82', second 84, 84' and third 86, 86' arcuate portions. The arcuate portions 82, 84, 86, 82', 84', 86' each have a desired radius. The first arcuate portion 82, 82' is designed to contact smaller containers 66 when they are positioned within the cup well 36 as seen in Figure 8a. Containers 66 such as seven ounce cups or baby bottles are contacted by the first arcuate portion 82, 82'. Here, the first arcuate portion 82, 82' along with the biasing member 60, 60' and cup well wall second arcuate portion 58, 58' provide a three point forced contact on the container 66. The second arm arcuate portion 84, 84' applies a force on medium size containers 66 such as sixteen to twenty ounce cups or bottles as seen in Figure 8b. Here, the second portion 84, 84' along with the biasing member 60, 60' and the cup well wall portion second arcuate portion 58, 58' apply force onto the container 66. The third arm arcuate portion 86, 86' adjacent the pivot end 72, 72' of the arm 42, 44 applies a force onto large containers such as forty-four ounce cups as seen in Figure 8c. Here, the third arcuate portion 86, 86', as well as the second arcuate portion 84, 84', along with the biasing member 60, 60' and the cup well wall second arcuate portion 58, 58' exert a three point force onto large containers. Thus, for large containers, a four point force is applied and a three point force is applied on smaller containers. The arm interior surface 80, 80' includes an undercut 90, 90' positioned a desired distance above the cup well base 46, 48. The undercut 90, 90' is such that it contacts the recess 68 in the container 66 along with the basing member 60, 60' to retain the bottle container 66 within the cup well 38 as illustrated in Figure 6. Here, the undercut 90, 90' as well as the biasing member 60, 60' are above the bottom portion 69 of the bottle container 66 securing the bottom 69 and the bottle container within the cup well 36, 38. Also, the bottom portion 92, 92' of the arm interior surface 80, 80' has a configuration adapted to contact the base 69 of the bottle container 66. Thus, the lower portion 92, 92' is angled inward to conform to the base 69 of the container. The arm 42, 44 includes a detent pivot, of said force, so that the arm 42, 44 can be pivoted about the pivot end to move inward on the cup well 38 to retain different size of containers 66 within the cup well 38 as seen in Figures 7a-7c. As the arm 42, 44 is pivoted inward, the arm 42, 44 contacts preset detent positions until the free end 74, 74' of the arm 42, 44 contacts the cup well wall 50, 52. As the arm 42, 44 moves from detent position to detent position, the arm 42, 44 is able to flex within its detent position without moving out of the detent position. Thus, as a container 66 is inserted between the arm 42, 44 biasing member 60, 60' and second arcuate wall 58, 58', a socket effect is created to retain the container 66 within the cup well 36, 38. Thus, the arm 42, 44 is pivoted inward to contact varying sized containers 66. As the arm 42, 44 is moved inward, depending upon the size of the container 66, one of the arcuate portions 82, 84, 86, 82', 84', 86' will contact the container 66 to maintain the container within the cup well 36, 38 as seen in Figures 7 and 8a-8c. The container 66 will also be contacted by the biasing member 60, 60' as well as the second wall arcuate portion 58, 58'. Thus, the present invention provides a cupholder which is adjustable applies three points of force onto containers 66 positioned within the cup well 36, 38.

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A cupholder comprising: a cup well for receiving a container, said cup well including a base and a wall, said wall positioned to intersect said base; a biasing member, said biasing member coupled with said wall and adapted to contact the container; and a positionable arm, said arm being adjustable to contact and retain different sized containers in said cup well. 2. The cupholder according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said wall contacting said container providing at least a three point contact with the container. 3. The cupholder according to claim 1, wherein said base being continuous with said wall for retaining liquid. 4. The cupholder according to claim 1, wherein said arm including at least two arcuate portions, each sized to contact a different sized container. 5. The cupholder according to claim 1, wherein said wall having a first and second arcuate portion separated by a substantially planar portion, said biasing means positioned on said planar portion. 6. The cupholder according to claim 1, wherein said biasing member including an arcuate surface for contacting the container. 7. The cupholder according to claim 1, wherein said biasing member positioned a desired distance from said base for contacting a recess in some container for maintaining the container in said cup well. 8. The cupholder according to claim 1, wherein said arm having an undercut position a desired distance from said base for contacting a recess in some container for maintaining the container in said cup well. 9. The cupholder according to claim 8, wherein a portion of the arm below said undercut being configured to receive a bottom portion of the container. 10. A container retainer, comprising: a plurality of cupholders, each cupholder including a cup well for receiving a container, said cup well including a base and a wall, said wall positioned to intersect said base; a biasing member, said biasing member coupled with said wall and adapted to contact the container; and a positionable arm, said arm being adjustable to contact and retain different sized containers in said cup well. 11. The container retainer according to claim 10, wherein a portion of said wall contacting said container providing at least a three point contact with the container. 12. The container retainer according to claim 10, wherein said base being continuous with said wall for retaining liquid. 13. The container retainer according to claim 10, wherein said arm including at least two arcuate portions, each sized to contact a different sized container. 14. The container retainer according to claim 10, wherein said wall having a first and second arcuate portion separated by a substantially planar portion, said biasing means positioned on said planar portion. 15. The container retainer according to claim 10, wherein said biasing member including an arcuate surface for contacting the container. 16. The container retainer according to claim 10, wherein said biasing member positioned a desired distance from said base for contacting a recess in some container for maintaining the container in said cup well. 17. The container retainer according to claim 10, wherein said arm having an undercut positioned a desired distance from said base for contacting a recess in some container for maintaining the container in said cup well. 18. The container retainer according to claim 17, wherein a portion of the arm below said undercut being configured to receive a bottom portion of the container. 19. A vehicle having an interior space, said interior space including a cupholder, said cupholder comprising: a cup well for receiving a container, said cup well including a base and a wall, said wall positioned to intersect said base; a biasing member, said biasing member coupled with said wall and adapted to contact the container; and a positionable arm, said arm being adjustable to contact and retain different sized containers in said cup well. 20. The cupholder according to claim 19, wherein a portion of said wall contacting said container providing at least a three point contact with the container. 21. The cupholder according to claim 19, wherein said base being continuous with said wall for retaining liquid. 22. The cupholder according to claim 19, wherein said arm including at least two arcuate portions, each sized to contact a different sized container. 23. The cupholder according to claim 19, wherein said wall having a first and second arcuate portion separated by a substantially planar portion said biasing means positioned on said planar portion. 24. The cupholder according to claim 19, wherein said biasing member including an arcuate surface for contacting the container. 25. The cupholder according to claim 19, wherein said biasing member positioned a desired distance from said base for contacting a recess in some container for maintaining the container in said cup well. 26. The cupholder according to claim 19, wherein said arm having an undercut position a desired distance from said base for contacting a recess in some container for maintaining the container in said cup well. 27. The cupholder according to claim 26, wherein a portion of the arm below said undercut being configured to receive a bottom portion of the container.

Inventors: GRAVENSTRETER NOEL P, GRAVENSTRETER, NOEL, P.
Applicants: DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORP, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A47K1
IPC codes: B60N3