Abstract:
The present invention discloses a cup holder in which a body includes a base and a cylindrical sidewall having an opening through which a protrusion is pivotably mounted for movement between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position. A continuous elastic member biases the protrusion to the fully extended position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention relates generally to a cup holder for an automobile. More specifically, the invention relates to a size adjustable cup holder for an automobile. 
     2. Related Technology 
     Most automobiles have one or more cup holders placed in the passenger compartment of the automobile. However, some of these cup holders cannot adjust to the size of the beverage container. This can be problematic in a situation where the automobile is accelerating, braking or turning because the beverage container may tip over, even when located in the cup holder during such situations. 
     One solution is to place “claws”, also called a protrusion, within the cup holder. These claws pivot in a direction parallel to the base of the cup holder (the base being the bottom of the beverage container rests). These claws are biased through the use of springs towards the beverage container, thereby frictionally engaging the side walls of the beverage container and holding the beverage container in place when the automobile is accelerating, braking or turning. The solution of using claws that are biased with springs have the drawbacks of higher manufacturing costs and are more prone to defects than cup holders without the spring biased claws. 
     Another mechanism used is to bias the claws of a cup holder is an elastic member, such as a rubber band. However, known designs of this type also suffer from issues of complexity. 
     As seen above, there exists a need for a size adjustable cup holder that overcomes the drawbacks and limitations of the art, is of low complexity, has low manufacturing costs and is not prone to defects. 
     SUMMARY 
     In overcoming the drawbacks and limitations of the known art, the present invention provides a cup holder with an engagement mechanism that accommodates a wide variety of cup diameters, while avoiding the use of springs or rubber bands that may fail without warning. The cup holder so provided includes a body defining a cup receiving cavity or well. More specifically, the body includes a base from which upwardly extends a side wall. The side wall is preferably cylindrical and at its upper end thereby defines an opening for receiving a beverage container thereinto. 
     Mounted to the sidewall is a protrusion. The protrusion is pivotably movable about an axis perpendicular to the base, between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position. In the fully extended position, the protrusion is extended to its maximum extent into the receptacle of the cup holder. In its fully retracted position, the protrusion is withdrawn into an opening in the sidewall, such that a portion of the protrusion is flush with the sidewall. To bias the protrusion towards the fully extended position, a spring, such as a continuous elastic member, is extended around the body of the cup holder and engages pivot arms connected to the protrusions. 
     The protrusion further includes an inclined surface substantially oriented toward the opening. This facilitates the entrance of the beverage container to the receptacle and the pushing of the protrusions, by the cup, into a retracted position. Alternatively or additionally, the protrusions further include an inclined surface substantially oriented toward the base, thereby facilitating the exiting of the beverage container from the receptacle. 
     To prevent the movement of the protrusion beyond its fully extended position, the protrusion may further include a first stop. Alternatively or additionally, the protrusion may also include a second stop to prevent the rotational movement of the claw beyond the fully retracted position. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art after review of the following description, with reference to the drawings and claims that are appended to and form a part of the specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of a cup holder assembly embodying the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the cup holder assembly seen in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of a cup holder assembly embodying the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cup holder assembly  10  having a first cup holder  11  and a second cup holder  12  is shown. The first cup holder  11  is substantially identical in construction to the second cup holder  12  and therefore only the first cup holder  11  is described in detail herein. Although  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a cup holder assembly  11  having two cup holders, the cup holder assembly  10  may have fewer or a greater number of cup holders. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , the first cup holder  11  includes a base  13  and a circumferential sidewall  14  that upwardly extends from the base  13  defining a substantially cylindrical receptacle  15  terminating at its upper end in a generally circular opening  19 . If desired, the circumferential sidewall  14  may taper slightly as it extends downward to the base  13 . Alternatively, cylindrical receptacle  15  may be any desired shape. 
     The sidewall  14  includes at least one, three being shown in the figures, openings  16  through which extends a claw or protrusion  22 . As best shown in another embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 3 , the claw  22  further includes a first stop or flange  34  located about the perimeter of the base of the claw  22  and exteriorly to the sidewall  14  adjacent to the axle  24  towards the opening  16 . Being greater in size than the opening  16 , the first stop  34  functions to prevent the inward rotation of the claw  22  beyond a fully extended position. As such the first stop  34  will engage the exterior surface  17  of the sidewall  14  thereby preventing further rotation of the claw  22 . 
     A second stop  36  extends from an axle  24 , away from the opening  16 . The second stop  36  of the claw  22  is oriented so as to engage the exterior surface  17  of the sidewall  14 , thereby preventing the rotational movement of the claw  22  beyond a fully retracted position. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the axle  24  is oriented in a direction generally parallel to the central axis defined by the sidewall  14 . Formed on the exterior surface  17  of the sidewall  14 , adjacent to one side of the opening  16 , are three integrally formed retainer clips  18 ,  20 ,  21 . 
     The retainer clips  18 ,  20 ,  21  are “C” shaped clips preferable made of plastic and unitarily formed with the sidewall  14 . The opening defined by the “C” shape is outwardly oriented to receive the axle  24  into the clips  18 ,  20 ,  21 , causing the clips to open slightly and close around the axle  24  when fully inserted into the clips  18 ,  20 ,  21 , locking the axle  24  into the clips and allowing the axle  24  to pivot or rotate therein. 
     Formed on one end  26  of the axle  24  is a lever arm  27  which may be a “U” shaped channel  27 , extending generally perpendicular to the axle  24  in the direction of the opening  16 . The lever arm  27  is oriented such that movement of the lever arm  27  toward the exterior surface  17  of the sidewall  14  will cause the claw  22  to be moved toward its extended position. Used to bias the claw  22  to the fully extended position is an elastic member  32 . The elastic member  32  extends circumferentially about the exterior surface  17  of the sidewall  14  and is received within the “U” shaped channel of the lever arm  27 . The elastic member  32  provides a force against the lever arm  27 , tending to bias the axle  24  to rotate in a direction extending the claw to the fully extended position. 
     A top claw surface  30  is generally inclined to face upwards away from the base  13 . A bottom claw surface  31  has an inclined surface which faces downwards towards the base  13 . The incline of the top claw surface  30  facilitates the entry of a beverage container into the receptacle, and movement at the claw  22  toward its retracted position against the bias of the elastic member, while the incline of the bottom claw surface  31  facilitates the removal of the beverage container from the receptacle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of the invention is shown. A cup holder assembly  10  includes a base  13  and a circumferential sidewall  14  that upwardly extends defining a substantially cylindrical receptacle  15 . Defined within the circumferential sidewall  14  is an opening  16  that extends through the circumferential sidewall  14  through which extends a claw or protrusion  22 . 
     The claw  22  further includes a first stop  34  located about the perimeter of the base of the claw  22  and adjacent to the axle  24 . Being greater in size than the opening  16 , the first stop  34  functions to prevent the inward rotation of the claw  22  beyond a fully extended position. As such, the first stop  34  will engage the exterior surface  17  of the sidewall  14 , thereby preventing further rotation of the claw  22 . 
     A second stop  36  extends from an axle  24 , away from the opening  16 . The second stop  36  of the claw  22  is oriented so as to engage the exterior surface  17  of the sidewall  14 , thereby preventing the rotational movement of the claw  22  beyond a fully retracted position. 
     As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the above description is meant as an illustration of implementation of the principles of this invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope or application of this invention in that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change, without departing from spirit of this invention, as defined in the following claims.