Abstract:
A cup holder apparatus of a console box for a vehicle, which may be installed at the rear of a console armrest in a rotatably opening and closing manner, may include left and right side portions pivotally coupled to the rear of the console armrest and elastically supported by an elastic member and forming a storage space therebetween for storing a container, wherein the left and right side portions may be selectively inserted into spaces formed at both left and right sides of an armrest hinge assembly when the cup holder may be closed by the elastic member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0113816 filed Nov. 3, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a console box for a vehicle. More particularly, it relates to a cup holder of a console box for a vehicle, which is installed at the rear of the console box such that a rear seat passenger can place a container such as a cup, etc., in the cup holder. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In general, various convenient facilities are provided in the interior of a vehicle for the convenience of a driver and a passenger. The convenient facilities typically include a console box in which various articles are stored, an armrest on which a user&#39;s arm is placed, a cup holder in which a drink container such as a can, bottle, cup, etc., is stored. 
     Among them, the console box is installed between a driver&#39;s seat and a front passenger&#39;s seat to provide a storage space in which various documents and tools required for driving are stored, and a console armrest on which the driver can rest his or her arm during driving is typically provided on the console box. 
     The console armrest supports the driver&#39;s elbow to assist the driver to drive while seated in a comfortable position and is installed at the top of the console box to cover the storage space of the console box. 
     Here, the rear end of the console armrest is hinge-connected to an upper rear of the console box such that the console armrest can be rotated up and down with respect to a hinge connection portion at the rear end when the storage space of the console box is opened and closed. 
     Moreover, a typical cup holder is installed on an instrument panel in front of the driver&#39;s seat and the front passenger&#39;s seat, on a tray in front of the console box between the driver&#39;s seat and the front passenger&#39;s seat, etc., such that the driver and the front passenger can store various drink containers such as cans, bottles, cups, etc. 
     Meanwhile, a rear cup holder provided to be used by a rear seat passenger is installed on the back of a front seat, on a door trim, or on the back of the console box. 
     Among them, a conventional cup holder installed on the back of the console box is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     As shown in the figures, a cup holder  11  is installed on the back a console box  10  to the rear of a console armrest  13 . 
     Here, a lower end of the cup holder  11  is hinge-connected to a rear end of the console box  10  such that the cup holder  11  is rotated with respect to a hinge connection portion  12  with the console box  10 , and thus the storage space is opened and closed. 
     During use, the rear seat passenger rotates the cup holder  11  downward (in the clockwise direction in the figures) with respect to the hinge connection portion  12  such that the cup holder  11  is opened backward from the back of the console box  10  and then places a drink container  1  in the storage space of the cup holder  11 . 
     However, the above-described conventional cup holder has the following problems. 
     The cup holder  11  is disposed at the rear of the console armrest  13  on the console box  10  and, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the entire cup holder  11  is located at the rear of the hinge connection portion  12  of the console armrest  13  regardless of opened and closed states (the position of the hinge connection portion of the console armrest is labeled “B” in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In this conventional structure, the console box  10  should extend backward to provide the installation space and storage space of the cup holder  11  and, as a result, the console box  10  and the cup holder  11  protrude excessively from the back of the front seat (i.e., the driver&#39;s seat and the front passenger&#39;s seat) to the rear. 
     In particular, when the cup holder  11  being located at the rear of the hinge connection portion of the console armrest  13  is not used, the entire cup holder  11  should be pushed into the rear space of the console box  10 , and thus the console box  10  itself should protrude significantly from the back of the front seat. 
     Moreover, since the cup holder  11  is drawn backward during use, the cup holder  11  protrudes further to the rear (i.e., the distance between the cup holder and the rear seat is further reduced), and thus the rear seat passenger&#39;s legs are restrained by the cup holder  11 , thereby significantly reducing the comfort of the passenger. 
     As such, when the console box  10  and the cup holder  11  protrude excessively from the back of the front seat, the convenience and comfort of the rear seat passenger may be reduced. 
     Moreover, during use, the cup holder  11  should ensure a sufficient height, and thus the region “A” of  FIG. 2  should be elongated in the conventional structure. Given the position of the hinge connection portion of the console armrest, if the region “A” is elongated, the amount of backward protrusion of the console box  10  and the cup holder should be further increased. 
     Furthermore, when the utilization of the rear seat is high and the smoking rate at the rear seat is high, a container  1  such as a cup, portable ashtray, etc., is frequently placed in the cup holder  11 , and thus the excessive protrusion of the console box  10  and the cup holder  11  may make the passenger feel inconvenient, which needs to be improved. 
     The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a cup holder of a console box for a vehicle, which is configured such that the amount of backward protrusion of the console box and the cup holder is reduced, thereby improving the convenience and comfort of a rear seat passenger and the merchantability of the vehicle. 
     In one aspect, a cup holder apparatus of a console box for a vehicle, which is installed at the rear of a console armrest in a rotatably opening and closing manner, may include left and right side portions pivotally coupled to the rear of the console armrest and elastically supported by an elastic member and forming a storage space therebetween for storing a container, wherein the left and right side portions are selectively inserted into spaces formed at both left and right sides of an armrest hinge assembly when the cup holder is closed by the elastic member. 
     The cup holder apparatus may include a flap pivotally and elastically coupled to a rear portion of the cup holder and supporting the stored container. 
     The cup holder apparatus may include a holder receiving groove, formed on the rear of the console box such that the cup holder is inserted and removably fitted thereto when the cup holder is closed, and recessed portions formed in the holder receiving groove in both sides thereof such that the both left and right side portions are selectively inserted thereto. 
     The cup holder apparatus may include a flap pivotally and elastically coupled to a rear portion of the cup holder and supporting the stored container. 
     The cup holder apparatus may include a flap spring installed on a hinge connection portion of the flap and the cup holder to provide an elastic restoring force to the flap for rotating the flap upward with respect to the hinge connection portion, and a hooked portion formed on the rear portion of the cup holder and by which the flap is hooked to restrict an upward rotation of the flap. 
     The cup holder apparatus may include a container support portion protruding from the holder receiving groove of the console box and supporting the stored container, wherein the flap is automatically folded by the elastic member while a front end of the flap is in contact with the container support portion when the cup holder is closed by the elastic member. 
     The direction of a contact surface of the container support portion and the shape of the front end of the flap are designed such that a contact repulsive force, which is a force in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface of the container support portion with which the front end of the flap is in contact when the flap is in contact with the container support portion, is applied as a rotational moment in a direction that the flap is folded in a state where the flap is hooked by the hooked portion on the rear portion. 
     The elastic member provides an elastic restoring force for rotating the cup holder toward the console armrest in a closing direction such that the flap is automatically folded when the cup holder is automatically closed by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member. 
     The following formula is satisfied such that the cup holder can be automatically closed and the flap is automatically folded Formula Kf×θf&lt;Kc×θc where Kf represents a spring constant of the flap spring, Kc represents a spring constant of the elastic member, θc represents a rotation angle of the cup holder from a state where the flap is initially in contact with the container support portion to a state where the cup holder is completely closed, and θf represents a rotation angle of the flap from a state where the flap is initially in contact with the container support portion to a state where the cup holder is completely closed. 
     Other aspects and exemplary embodiments of the invention are discussed infra. 
     The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a state in which a cup holder of a console box in accordance with a prior art is opened. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view showing the problems of the cup holder in accordance with the prior art. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a state in which a cup holder in accordance with the present invention is installed. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a state in which the cup holder in accordance with the present invention is drawn and opened. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a state in which a container is placed in the cup holder in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing the cup holder in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a container is placed in the cup holder in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cup holder in accordance with the present invention is closed. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state in which the cup holder in accordance with the present invention is drawn and opened. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state in which the cup holder in accordance with the present invention is closed. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a supporting force of a flap is applied to the cup holder in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are cross-sectional perspective views taken with respect to the position of the flap in the cup holder in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the flap is automatically folded when the cup holder in accordance with the present invention is closed. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view showing a closed state of the cup holder in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Reference numerals set forth in the Drawings includes reference to the following elements as further discussed below: 
     It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. 
     In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles. 
     The above and other features of the invention are discussed infra. 
     The present invention provides a cup holder of a console box for a vehicle, which is installed at the rear of the console box to accommodate various containers such as a cup, can, bottle, portable ashtray, etc. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a state in which a cup holder  120  in accordance with the present invention is installed, in which the cup holder  120  is being closed. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a state in which the cup holder  120  is drawn and opened in which the cup holder  120  is opened by holding a handle  125  and rotating the cup holder  120  downward (e.g., a rotatable opening and closing type). 
       FIG. 5  shows a state in which, after the cup holder  120  is opened, a container  1  such as a cup, drink bottle, portable ashtray, etc., is stored in its storage space. 
     Moreover,  FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing the cup holder  120 ,  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the container  1  is placed in the cup holder  120 ,  FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cup holder  120  is closed,  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state in which the cup holder  120  is drawn and opened, and  FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state in which the cup holder  120  is closed. 
     As shown in the figures, the cup holder  120  of the present invention is installed to be rotated up and down with respect to a hinge connection portion (denoted by reference numeral  124  in  FIG. 6 ) at the bottom of the rear end of the console box  100 , and the lower end of the cup holder  120  is hinge-connected to a rear end (more clearly, to a rear housing  112  to be described later) of a housing (denoted by reference numeral  110  in  FIG. 6 ) of the console box  100 . 
     Therefore, when the cup holder  120  is pulled backward and drawn, the cup holder  120  is rotated downward, and thus its storage space is exposed to the outside, that is, the cup holder  120  is being opened (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     On the contrary, when the cup holder  120  is pushed forward to be rotated upward, the storage space is closed, and the outer side of the cup holder  120  matches the rear of the console box  100 . As a result, the cup holder  120  is not exposed to the outside, that is, the cup holder  120  is being closed (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The cup holder  120  of the present invention has a structure in which both left and right side portions  121 , a rear portion  122 , and a bottom portion  123  form the storage space in which the container  1  is stored. 
     Further, a holder receiving groove  113 , to which the cup holder  120  is inserted and connected during non-use, is provided at the rear of the console box  100 . 
     During use, the cup holder  120  is tilted backward, and then the cup holder  120  and its storage space protrude to the rear of the console box  100  such that the storage space is created on the outside of the rear of the console box  100  (see  FIGS. 4 ,  7  and  9 ). During non-use, the storage space is closed, and the cup holder  120  is connected to the holder receiving groove  113  of the console box  100  (see  FIGS. 3 ,  8  and  10 ). 
     Moreover, the both left and right side portions  121  and the rear portion  122  of the cup holder  120  have a predetermined height for supporting the container  1 . Thus, the cup holder  120  of the present invention has a structure in which the both left and right side portions  121  are inserted into unused spaces at both sides of an armrest hinge assembly  116  and a rear support bracket  117  when the cup holder  120  is closed. 
       FIG. 6  shows the armrest hinge assembly  116 , which is installed between the rear end of the console armrest  101  and the rear of a main body housing  111  of the console box  100  and acts as the center of rotation when the console armrest  101  is opened and closed, and the rear support bracket  117  which is fixedly installed on the rear of the main body housing  111  to firmly support the armrest hinge assembly  116  and to enhance the stiffness of the armrest hinge assembly  116 . 
     In this configuration, the rear housing  112  is assembled to the rear of the main body housing  111  of the console box  100 , and the cup holder  120  is assembled to an upper end of the rear housing  112  to be rotated up and down (e.g., a rotatable opening and closing type). 
     The upper end of the rear housing  112  is located at the rear of the console armrest  101 , forms a space in which the cup holder  120  is put when the cup holder  120  is closed, and forms the holder receiving groove  113  in which the side of the container  1  placed in the cup holder  120  is put. 
     When the cup holder  120  is being opened, a bottom surface  113   a  of the holder receiving groove  113  and a bottom surface  123  of the cup holder  120  form a support surface for supporting the bottom of the container  1  placed in the cup holder  120 . When the cup holder  120  is being completely opened, the bottom surface  113   a  of the holder receiving groove  113  and the bottom surface  123  of the cup holder  120  form the same plane, thereby forming the support surface on which the container  1  is placed. 
     Moreover, recessed portions  114  disposed at both left and right sides of the armrest hinge assembly  116  and the rear support bracket  117  are provided in the holder receiving groove  113 . The both side portions  121  of the cup holder  120  are inserted into the recessed portions  114 . 
     As such, the recessed portions  114 , into which the both left and right side portions  121  of the cup holder  120  are inserted when the cup holder  120  is closed, are provided in the holder receiving groove  113  formed on the rear of the console box  100 , more clearly, at the upper end of the rear housing  112 , and thus the both left and right side portions  121  of the cup holder  120  can be inserted into the unused spaces of the console box  100  (i.e., the unused spaces at both sides of the armrest hinge assembly  116  and the rear support bracket  117 ). As a result, the amount of backward protrusion of the console box  100  and the amount of backward protrusion of the cup holder  120  due to the installation of the cup holder  120  can be significantly reduced. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  7  and  9 , it can be seen that, when the container  1  is placed in the cup holder  120 , the both left and right side portions  121  of the cup holder  120  are completely disengaged from the recessed portions  114  and located on the outside of the rear housing  112  of the console box  100 . 
     On the contrary, referring to  FIGS. 8 and 10 , it can be seen that the cup holder  120  is being closed, while the both left and right side portions  121  of the cup holder  120  are being inserted into the recessed portions  114 , and the sides of the cup holder  120  completely match the rear of the rear housing  112  of the console box  100  without protruding to the rear. 
     As such, with the structure in which the storage space is created when the cup holder  120  is drawn and the structure in which the both left and right side portions  121  of the cup holder  120  supporting the container  1  are inserted into the unused spaces of the housing  110  of the console box  100 , i.e., into the recessed portions  114  located at both sides of the armrest hinge assembly  116  and the rear support bracket  117 , the amount of backward protrusion of the cup holder  120  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be minimized. 
     Moreover, a holder spring  126  is mounted in the hinge connection portion  124  of the cup holder  120  with respect to the rear housing  112  of the console box  100  such that its elastic restoring force is applied in a direction that cup holder  120  is closed. 
     That is, when a user removes the container  1  from the cup holder  120 , the elastic restoring force of the holder spring  126  acts as a force that closes the cup holder  120 , and thus the cup holder  120  is automatically closed by the elastic restoring force of the holder spring  126 , thereby providing convenience of operation. 
     Of course, when the container  1  is placed in the cup holder  120 , the user should draw the cup holder  120 , which is inserted into the holder receiving groove  113  of the console box  100  and closed, with a force greater than the spring force of the holder spring  126 . 
     Meanwhile, a container support portion  115  for supporting one side of the container  1  is formed to protrude from the inner side of the holder receiving groove  113 , and the inner side of the container support portion  115  is formed with a curved surface having a predetermined curvature. 
     Moreover, a flap  128  for closely supporting the other side of the container  1  in a position corresponding to the container support portion  115  is elastically and rotatably provided on the inner side of the cup holder  120 . After the cup holder  120  is drawn, the container  1  is inserted between the container support portion  115  on the inner side of the holder receiving groove  113  and the flap  128  (which is automatically rotated upward when the cup holder  120  is opened). 
     As such, when the container  1  is inserted between the container support portion  115  and the flap  128 , the opened state of the cup holder  120  can be maintained by the inserted container  1  even when the elastic restoring force of the holder spring  126  is applied to the cup holder  120 . 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the supporting force of the flap  128  is applied to the cup holder  120  in accordance with the present invention, and  FIGS. 12 and 13  are cross-sectional perspective views taken with respect to the position of the flap  128  in the cup holder  120  in accordance with the present invention. 
     The height of the rear portion  122  of the cup holder  120  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, required to support the container  1 , is closely related to the amount of protruding. That is, when the cup holder  120  is being opened, the higher the height of the rear portion  122  of the cup holder  120  required to stably support the container  1  (to prevent the container  1  from falling during sudden acceleration or during sudden stop), the more the amount of backward protrusion of the cup holder  120  increases. 
     Therefore, there are limitations in increasing the height of the rear portion  122  to reduce the amount of protrusion of the cup holder  120 , and thus, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the flap  128 , which elastically rotates to closely support the side of the container  1 , is provided in the cup holder  120 . 
     As a result, a sufficient force for supporting the container  1  can be ensured regardless of the diameter or height of the container  1 . 
     The flap  128  is hinge-connected to the inner side of the cup holder  120  to be rotated up and down. Here, a flap spring  129  for elastically rotating the flap  128  is installed in a hinge connection portion (denoted by reference numeral  128   a  in  FIG. 14 ) of the flap  128  with respect to the cup holder  120 . 
     The elastic restoring force of the flap spring  129  is applied in a direction that the flap  128  is rotated upward to support the container  1  when the cup holder  120  is opened, and thus the flap  128  is automatically rotated upward when the cup holder  120  is pulled backward and opened by the elastic restoring force of the flap spring  129 . 
     Here, the flap  128  is hooked by a hooked portion  127  bent downward at the upper end of the rear portion  122  of the cup holder  120 , and thus the upward rotation of the flap  128  is restricted by the hooked portion  127 . 
     Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 11 , as the flap  128  rotates, the container  1  of various sizes can be received between the container support portion  115  and the flap  128 , and the rotated position of the flap  128  varies depending on the size of the received container  1 . 
     When the container  1  is received, the elastic restoring force of the flap spring  129  acts as a force for supporting the container  1 . That is, when the container  1  is received, the flap spring  129  is deformed, and the elastic restoring force of the flap spring  129  acts as the force for supporting the container  1  through the flap  128 . 
     In this state, when the container  1  is removed from the cup holder  120 , the flap  128  is rotated upward by the elastic restoring force of the flap spring  129  and then hooked by the hooked portion  127  of the cup holder  120 . 
     Then, when the cup holder  120  is pushed into the holder receiving groove  113  of the console box  100  and closed, the flap  128  is pushed downward by the container support portion  115 , formed on the inner side of the holder receiving groove  113 , automatically rotated downward, and then folded, which will be described in more detail below. 
     When the container is received, the front end of the flap  128  is in close contact with the side of the container and supports the container. While the cup holder  120  is closed, the front end of the flap  128  is brought into contact with the front side of the container support portion  115 , and then the flap  128  is automatically rotated with respect to the hinge connection portion  128   a  by the contact repulsive force and folded downward. 
     As such, in order that the flap  128  is automatically folded while the cup holder  120  is closed, the direction of the contact surface of the container support portion  115  and the shape of the front end of the flap  128  should be designed such that the contact repulsive force, which is a force in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface of the container support portion  115  with which the front end of the flap  128  is in contact when the flap  128  is in contact with the container support portion  115 , is applied as a rotational moment in a direction that the flap  128  is folded with respect to the hinge connection portion  128   a.    
       FIG. 14  shows a cross-sectional structure (a) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the flap  128  can be automatically folded and a cross-sectional structure (b) according to a comparative example in which the flap  128  cannot be automatically folded. In the structure of (b), the contact repulsive force (F) is applied as a rotational moment in a direction that the flap  128  is opened, and thus the flap  128  cannot be automatically folded. However, in the structure of (a), the contact repulsive force (F) is applied as a rotational moment (Mf) in a direction that the flap  128  is folded, and thus the flap  128  can be automatically folded. 
     As such, the contact surface of the container support portion  115  and the shape of the front end of the flap  128 , which enable the automatic folding, are employed in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and thus, when the cup holder  120  is closed, the flap  128  is in contact with the container support portion  115  in the cup holder  120  and then is automatically folded. 
     Moreover, in employing the flap  128 , when the rotational moment (MO in the folding direction of the flap  128  is smaller than a rotational moment (Mc) in the closing direction of the flap  128 , the cup holder  120  can be automatically closed. 
     That is, when the cup holder  120  is closed as the elastic restoring force of the holder spring  126  is applied, if the elastic restoring force of the holder spring  126  is greater than the spring force of the flap spring  129  applied in the opening direction of the cup holder  120  (i.e., in the upward rotating direction of the flap), the cup holder  120  can be automatically closed by the elastic restoring force of the holder spring  126 . 
     In the opposite case, the elastic restoring force of the holder spring  126  cannot overcome the spring force of the flap spring  129 , and thus the cup holder  120  cannot be further rotated in the closing direction while the flap  128  is being unfolded and being in contact with the container support portion  115 . 
     Therefore, spring constant Kf of the flap spring  129  and spring constant Kc of the holder spring  126  should satisfy the conditions of the following formula 1. 
     In  FIG. 14 , Mc represents the rotational moment in the closing direction of the cup holder  120 , Mf represents the rotational moment in the closing direction of the flap  128 , θc represents the rotation angle of the cup holder  120  from a state where the flap  128  is initially in contact with the container support portion  115  to a state where the cup holder  120  is completely closed, and θf represents the rotation angle of the flap  128  from a state where the flap  128  is initially in contact with the container support portion  115  to a state where the cup holder  120  is completely closed. 
     Here, in order that the cup holder  120  is automatically closed, “Mf&lt;Mc” should be satisfied and, to this end, the conditions of the following formula 1 should be satisfied.
 
 Kf×θf&lt;Kc×θc   [Formula 1]
 
     As described above, according to the cup holder of the console box for a vehicle of the present invention, in which the both left and right side portions of the cup holder are inserted into the unused spaces of the console box when the cup holder is closed and the flap capable of automatically folded is installed to provide a force for supporting the container, it is possible to ensure a sufficient height for supporting the container (i.e., a sufficient force for supporting the container) and significantly reduce the amount of backward protrusion of the console box and the amount of backward protrusion of the cup holder due to the installation of the cup holder, which contributes to the improvement of the convenience and comfort of the rear seat passenger. 
     Moreover, the cup holder can be automatically closed and the flap can be automatically folded, which thus facilitates the use of the cup holder. 
     For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner” and “outer” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.