Abstract:
An arm rest with a drinking vessel holder is particularly intended for use as a back center arm rest for integration in the back rest of a vehicle. The need for a soft back rest and at the same time for integration of a drinking vessel holder is satisfied by the aspect that the drinking vessel holder is formed of a soft material in the bottom region. Moreover, the foam body for provision of padding is functionally employed for generating the retaining force required for retaining the drinking vessel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2009 035 694.0, filed Jul. 30, 2009, which is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     STATEMENT CONCERNING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an arm rest with a drinking vessel holder. The arm rest is preferably for arrangement at a seat or a seat bench in a vehicle. The drinking vessel holder extends into the interior of the arm rest, and includes at least one movable retaining element. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     From vehicle manufacturing, particularly from automobile construction, arm rests are known which are installed at a seat or else at a seat bench. Generic arm rests are also equipped with a drinking vessel holder. Said drinking vessel holders, frequently also referred to as cup holders, are utilized in particular for enabling vehicle occupants to deposit drinking vessels, such as cups, bottles or cans in a simple and secure fashion. As a matter of course, such arm rests with drinking vessel holders can equally be employed in other means of transport, such as airplanes, rail vehicles or ships. 
     Arm rests with drinking vessel holders known from the state of the art exhibit the characteristic feature that the drinking vessel holder is joined to the arm rest in the form of a module. For the drinking vessel holder, in turn, a plurality of different holder types are known from the state of the art. These holders are generally composed of a base support, a circular receptacle, a bottom and retaining elements which serve to fix the drinking vessel to be accommodated and to ensure a secure hold. For this purpose, a spring force acts upon the holder. 
     In this context, document DE 100 43 720 A1 discloses a drinking vessel holder with three retaining elements. The retaining elements are joined to the receptacle via a rotational axis. With the aid of a tension spring, the retaining elements are pushed into the direction of the center of the receptacle via an appropriate kinematic mechanism, thusly obtaining the secure fixation of the beverage container. The complicated kinematic mechanism required in this embodiment for generating the relevant retaining forces proves to be problematic. 
     Document EP 1 426 233 A1, pertaining to a holder for a beverage container, discloses a comparable approach, wherein appropriate retaining elements are likewise pushed against the bottle in response to a spring force. In analogy with the afore-cited document, in this case a base support is required, which features appropriate spring elements attached thereto, these spring elements in turn having suitable retaining elements attached thereto. 
     A state of the art closely associated with the present invention is disclosed in document DE 296 06 583 U1, wherein it has been achieved for the first time to simplify the generation process of the spring forces to be applied. Here, the beverage container is composed of a receptacle which has a plurality of retaining elements attached thereto. These retaining elements in turn are mounted at a rotational axis and are pushed into the direction of the center of the container by means of an elastic ring enclosing the receptacle. Hence, a comparatively simple construction is available, wherein the spring forces can be applied in a secure and simple manner. 
     Referring back to the function of the arm rests, rigid arm rests and arm rests being swivelable into different positions are known from the state of the art. All of these arm rests provide the function of adequately enhanced convenience on the part of the person using the seat. 
     This aspect is of particular relevance in the case of swivelable arm rests which are provided for integration in a back seat bench, wherein said arm rests form a part of the back rest when in the swiveled-up position. In this regard, it is common practice to make provision for an adequate foam padding in case of suitable arm rests which at the same time fulfill the function of a back rest. In particular in this case of application, the integration of a suitable drinking vessel holder proves to be problematic. This results from the fact that the drinking vessel holder has a larger installation depth for accommodating a suitable drinking vessel and hence provides less space for the relevant foam body providing the padding. 
     In order to solve this problem, document DE 296 19 478 U1 suggests to make provision for a fold-out mechanism including an additional holder. In response to an appropriate fold-out action, the additional holder is positioned above the arm rest, whereas the receptacle having a reduced depth is positioned within the arm rest. This solution, in turn, is afflicted with the disadvantage that a complicated kinematic mechanism is required to realize a suitable holder. By the same token, suitable holders are prone to potential damage, because these holders are manifestly raised above the arm rest surface and hence constitute an obstacle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For this reason, it is an object of the present invention to create a generic arm rest with a beverage holder that requires little space, while at the same time ensuring a secure hold of the vessel to be accommodated. It is another object of the present invention to design the holder in the simplest and most cost-efficient manner. This object is attained in one embodiment by providing an inventive arm rest with an upper side having an opening. At least one drinking vessel holder extends from the opening into the interior of the arm rest and which thusly forms a receptacle. The drinking vessel holder includes at least one movable retaining element, wherein the retaining element can come into abutment against the periphery of a drinking vessel. The retaining element is pushed into the direction of the drinking vessel in response to an active force (F) generated by an elastic deformation of a foam body. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the inventive arm rest firstly is characterized by typical features of this arm rest type. The arm rest concerned firstly relates to a padded arm rest. Hence, the arm rest features a foam body. Besides, a drinking vessel holder is integrated, which is positioned on the upper side so as to ensure the functionality thereof. The basic feature of a drinking vessel holder is constituted by a receptacle, wherein a suitable container can be deposited. In analogy with most embodiments of drinking vessel holders, this recess completely extends within the arm rest. In addition, several retaining elements are utilized, which are distributed along the periphery and which retain the relevant drinking vessel in response to an active force. 
     In contrast to conventional construction types utilizing an additional component for generating the active force, for this purpose, the already provided foam body is utilized. In this regard, the inventive feature is constituted by the elastic deformation of the foam body at the back of the retaining elements, resulting in the generation of the accordingly necessary active force. By means of selecting the shape of the foam body it is ensured that a force acts upon the retaining elements already in the initial position, i.e. when no container is accommodated in the receptacle, so that the retaining elements are hence secured free of clearance subject to a certain amount of pre-stressing. 
     Padded arm rests are employed in particular as center arm rests, which in turn form a part of the back rest of the back seat bench. As a consequence, said arm rests are mounted so as to be swivelable, resulting in that the arm rest firstly is used as an arm rest and secondly may serve as a back rest as well. Thus, on the one hand provision is made for the swiveled-down support position, wherein the corresponding upper side points into the interior, hence ensuring the arm rest functionality. On the other hand, provision is made for the swiveled-up rest position, wherein the front side, which has the relevant padding for ensuring the required convenience on the part of the person using the seat, points into the interior. The upper side and the front side hence are inevitably positioned on opposite sides of the arm rest. 
     In addition, the inventive design of the drinking vessel holder is characterized by the aspect that it features a bottom, wherein this bottom is closed and features a peripheral rim. This results in a minimized receiving volume which serves to collect spilled liquid and to prevent penetration into the padding. 
     For the purpose of extra convenience and to provide an additional safety feature, the bottom and the adjoining rim are made of an elastic material. This material may be a conventional TPE or TPU material, but other materials are equally conceivable. In spite of the reduced installation space remaining between the bottom of the drinking vessel holder and the front side, both a high degree of convenience can thusly be ensured and the necessary resilience is provided when the head bumps against the area at the back of the drinking vessel holder. 
     It is still another feature of the inventive design that the retaining elements are integrally joined to the bottom. Hence, an insert is formed, which on the one hand is easy to manufacture and which on the other hand provides special advantages in terms of assembly. For manufacture, preferably a two-component injection molding process may be contemplated. In this process, in the abutment region of the beverage container at the retaining elements, a predominantly solid plastic material is utilized. In this regard, conventional plastic materials, such as PP, PE, PA, ABS materials or the like can be utilized. By means of this selection it is guaranteed that the beverage container can be readily inserted. In contrast hereto, the selection of a soft plastic material, such as a TPE or TPU material, would cause the retaining element to strongly adhere to the beverage container, so that the insertion would be performed in a jerky fashion. In contrast hereto, a suitably soft material is utilized especially at the bottom as well as in the peripheral region. 
     Particularly simple assembly can be ensured in particular by the aspect that the insert, which features the corresponding retaining elements and the bottom, can be mounted in an inner frame, and an outer frame is subsequently sleeved thereon. Hence, the insert is fixed in its spatial position. 
     For defining the range of clearance of the retaining elements, the retaining elements each feature a rotational axis. Insofar as the advantageous resilience of the bottom can be dispensed with, the insert, as a rule, will be composed of one material only. In such instances, it is advantageous to form the rotational axis with the aid of a film hinge. In the preferred embodiment with a soft bottom, it is advantageous if the rotational axis is formed by laterally protruding webs. In this case, the solid material component extends from the abutment region up to the webs. Underneath the webs, provision is accordingly made for the soft region. Hence, movability of the retaining element relative to the bottom can be ensured. The corresponding webs are advantageously supported between the inner and the outer frame. Thus, said webs practically form the fixation of the insert between the inner and the outer frame. In both variations described, i.e. an insert made of a material with a film hinge or made of a solid-soft combination, the integral design results in a reduced restoring force acting upon the retaining elements in the direction of the initial position thereof. However, it is the foam body which is essential for ensuring the functionality of the retaining elements. 
     It is a characterizing feature that the foam body generates the active force acting upon the retaining elements. To this end, the foam body in the unmounted state has a portion overlapping with the retaining elements. During assembly, the relevant foam body is pushed back and hence generates the corresponding force acting upon the retaining elements. In order to limit the path of the retaining elements into the free volume of the insert, the relevant retaining elements feature a peripheral narrow frame. This frame in turn rests against the inner frame part. 
     For better distribution of forces of the pushing action exerted upon the retaining element, the foam body preferably is provided with a film. 
     For better and more uniform securing of the beverage container to be accommodated, preferably at least four retaining elements are utilized and are uniformly distributed along the periphery. A relevant difference to the available solution using for instance the elastic ring, can be seen in that as a result of this design of the drinking vessel holder it is possible to make provision for indentations between the individual retaining elements, in order to be able for instance to accommodate a cup with a handle. Here, the indentation preferably extends close to the bottom and extends over three-fourths of the height from the upper side to the bottom. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An advantageous embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated in the following drawings and is explained hereinafter by way of example. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an arm rest  01  with a drinking vessel holder  10  in the swiveled-down support position in a perspective top view; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a detailed view of the drinking vessel holder  10  without the outer frame  12 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the outer frame  12 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the insert  14  with retaining elements  15  and bottom  16 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a sectional view through the center of the retaining elements  15 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a sectional lateral view through the retaining elements  15  in the region of the webs  18 ; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional view through the foam body  05  in a state prior to assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an arm rest  01  which is intended for use as a part of a back rest in a vehicle. This perspective view illustrates the arm rest  01  in a swiveled-down support position. In this case, the upper side  02  points into the interior of the vehicle and upwards. The front side  03  of the arm rest  01 , which is located opposite the upper side  02  and hence below the illustration of  FIG. 1 , is not illustrated in the drawings. The front side  03  forms a part of the back rest which is available in the swiveled-up rest position. The swiveling movement of the arm rest  01  is enabled via an integrated axis  04 . 
     The relevant drinking vessel holder  10  is integrated in the frontal region of the arm rest  01 . In this case, two drinking vessel holders allocated to each other are provided. These holders are intended for accommodation of for instance cans or bottles or else cups. The drinking vessel holder terminates with the upper side  02  of the arm rest  01  and thusly extends into the interior of the arm rest  01 . With the aid of the drinking vessel holder  10 , a circular receptacle  11  is thusly created, which is closed downwards by a suitable bottom  16 . Between the two drinking vessel holders  10  provision is made for an indentation  20  which is intended for providing the required space for the handle of a cup. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the drinking vessel holder  10 , however, without the outer frame part  12 . The cover of the upper side  02 , which is cut in a rectangular shape for the drinking vessel holder  10 , extends along the outer periphery. Between the drinking vessel holder  10  and the cover, the foam body  05  is discernible. This foam body is limited in the region of the receptacle  11  by the inner frame  13  and by the insert  14  in the bottom region. In this way, the inner frame  13  forms a ring and the bottom  16  with the adjoining region forms a cup. Starting from the bottom  16 , the retaining elements  15  extend upwards and into the free volume of the receptacle  11 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the outer frame  12  which is mounted into and via the inner frame  13  and the insert  14 . This frame is opened downwards and thusly forms an annular receptacle  11 . For the retaining elements  15  protruding into the free volume of the receptacle  11 , the outer frame  12  is provided with appropriate slots. The upper edge of the outer frame  12  terminates with the upper side  02  of the arm rest  01 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the inventive insert  14  composed of a bottom  16  with an adjoining rim and four retaining elements  15 . The illustrated embodiment shows the variation with a solid-soft combination, wherein the abutment region  17  relative to the container is made of a solid material, which is inserted downwards to the webs  18 , and the remainder is made of a soft material. Hence, it is readily discernible that each retaining element  15  is provided with an appropriate rotational axis  19  passing through the webs  18 . As a result, displacement of a retaining element  15  results in an elastic deformation of the soft region underneath the rotational axis  19 . Due to the design with a bottom  16  having an adjoining rim, a small receiving volume is created which makes it possible to collect spilled liquid. Hence, penetration of liquid into the foam body  05  is prevented. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a sectional view through the center of a retaining element  15 . Here, the effect of the inventive design is clearly apparent. The foam body  05  is located at the back of the retaining element  15  and underneath the insert  14 . If a beverage container is now inserted into the drinking vessel holder  10 , the relevant retaining elements  15  are pushed to the outside and the foam body  05  is consequently compressed. The foam body  05  compressed in this way in turn gives rise to a reactive force, which generates the required active force F and thusly the retaining force for the beverage container. Moreover, the separation between the solid-soft-component in the insert  14  is apparent. The abutment region  17 , which may get into contact with the beverage container, is designed as a solid component, whereas the remainder of the insert  14  is composed of a soft material. For enhancement of the distribution of forces from the retaining element  15  to the foam body  05 , the foam body  05  is preferably covered with a thin film  06 . 
       FIG. 6  in turn illustrates a sectional view through the retaining element  15  in the region of the webs  18 . Of the retaining element  15  merely the section through the web  18  is discernible. However, here the connection of the inner frame  13  which carries the web  18  and the outer frame  12  is discernible. 
     In  FIG. 7 , the foam body  05  is sketchily illustrated in a state prior to assembly. It is rendered apparent that the foam body  05  needs to be pushed into its initial position in the mounted state already in the assembly. Hence, it is ensured that the retaining element  15  is always subjected to a sufficiently large pressing force, and that the retaining element  15  is hence arranged in the beverage holder free of clearance. For limitation of the path of the retaining element  15  into the free volume of the receptacle  11 , the retaining element  15  has a narrow rim, as can be seen in  FIG. 4 , and with said rim rests against the outer frame  12 , as can be seen in  FIG. 3 , if the recess for the retaining element  15  is narrower than the rim at the retaining element  15 .