Abstract:
An apparatus for retaining various food items in a motor vehicle, including a cup holder having a stowable second cup holder therein in which the stowable second cup holder has a removable container therein, the cup holder having a supplemental support device for stabilizing the apparatus when it is extended. The apparatus further having a leveling device for maintaining a level orientation of the cup holder to accommodate various door widths.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to motor vehicle accessories and more particularly relates to devices for holding open beverage containers in motor vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the past, drivers and their passengers have frequently utilized the convenience of fast-food restaurants and their drive-up lanes, only to be immediately faced with the problem of where to put their food while they continue to drive. Typically, they need an arrangement in which the food is readily accessible to facilitate safe and easy consumption while the vehicle is being operated and at the same time, minimize food and beverage spills. 
     Door/window-mounted cup holders have enjoyed considerable success in recent years. However, they typically are unable to hold food items in addition to the beverage containers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,582 shows a food and beverage tray which is capable of holding both food and beverages, but with its dedicated space for food storage adjacent to the beverage container, it may be too bulky and awkward for many people and many vehicles. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for an improved device which is capable of retaining both beverage containers and food while the vehicle is in operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a food and beverage holder for motor vehicles which is compact. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to include a stowable pull-out drawer or tray for food or beverage items. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to increase the capability of the device to retain food and beverage items while maintaining a compact overall size when stowed. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a design which is flexible to accommodate various food and beverage items. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to include an additional cup-holder receiving member stowed in the pull-out drawer which can be deployed to either retain an additional beverage container or food items such as a hamburger and French fries and even dipping sauce. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention to achieve a compact stable and versatile device which can accommodate various fast-food menu selections. 
     The present invention is an apparatus for retaining food and beverages for consumption in a motor vehicle which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, produce the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is a container for receiving beverage containers having a pull-out tray or drawer for receiving and retaining additional beverage containers or food items and a means for coupling the device to an interior portion of a motor vehicle which is accessible to the driver and/or its occupants. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the device with the slide-out drawer in its open position and the French fry container in its fully deployed position. Dashed lines refer to concealed matter. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention, with the pull-out drawer and French fry container in stowed positions. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention, with the pull-out drawer and the French fry container in a stowed position. Dashed lines refer to concealed matter. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention, with the pull-out drawer in a stowed position. Dashed lines refer to concealed matter. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the leveler of FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention in which the drawer is opened and the French fry container is pivotally deployed and stowed. The dashed lines refer to intermediate and alternate positions of the French fry container during its pivotal deployment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a front elevation view of the apparatus of the present invention, generally designated  100 , having a main body  102  which is attached to a door attachment arm (not shown). Coupled to the door attachment arm is first napkin retaining member  106 , which is disposed in front of a second napkin retaining member (not shown). Main body  102  has a handle receiving void  103  therein for receiving and allowing a cup handle to extend therethrough when a cup is inserted into main body  102 . Body  102  has a body top  114  and a body bottom  116 , as well as a drawer side  118  and an opposite side  120 . Slidably disposed in body  102  is pull-out or slide-out drawer  130 , which has a drawer bottom  132 , a drawer faceplate  134 , which has coupled to it a supplemental support arm  136  which is used for cooperating with a door of a vehicle (not shown). Supplemental support arm  136  is pivotally coupled to faceplate  134  through support arm pivot member  138 . Drawer  130  has a drawer stabilizer riser  140  along the drawer back side  142 . Coupled to faceplate  134  of drawer  130  is sauce container  144 . French fry container  150  is shown disposed along opposite side  120  of main body  102 . French fry container  150  is shown having a fry container top  152 . Disposed in front body side  112  is slide track  170  and slide removal track  172  which are for receiving slide guide member  174  which is coupled to drawer  130 . A leveler  160  is shown disposed on bottom side  116  of main body  102 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, main body  102  is constructed of a lightweight, durable and at least semi-rigid material such as plastic, paper, metal, cardboard or any other suitable material. Drawer  130 , French fry container  150 , sauce container  144 , napkin retaining member  106 , supplemental support arm  136  and leveler  160  may all be made of materials similar to main body  102 . 
     Now referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a top view of the apparatus  100  of the present invention, a door attachment arm  104  is shown coupled to main body  102 , a removable top member  180  is disposed inside main body  102  and affixed to main body  102  by fasteners  182 . In a preferred embodiment, several removable tops  180  may be included, each having a different sized orifice therein for receiving a beverage container. In alternate embodiments, the door attachment arm  104  may be any vehicle connector which could be adhesives, Velcro, or other apparatus for connection to the vehicle, including hardware for permanent mounting or incorporation of the apparatus into components of the vehicle. 
     Now referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a side view of the apparatus  100  of the present invention which shows a back side  110  of main body  102  and a leveler pivoting pin  162 . Opposite back side  110  is front side  112 . 
     Now referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a front view of the apparatus  100  of the present invention with the drawer  130  stowed inside main body  102 . The slide guide member  174  is shown disposed near opposite side  120 . 
     Now referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a bottom view of the leveler  160  of FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 , which shows a pivoting point having leveler pivot member  162  disposed therein. 
     Now referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the operation of the apparatus  100  of the present invention is hereafter described. The apparatus  100  is attached to a door of a motor vehicle by inserting door attachment arm  104  into a gap between the door panel and a window typically disposed in the door. The main body  102  then hangs from the door attachment arm  104  along the inside of a door panel. The main body is maintained in a relatively level orientation by leveler  160  which contacts the door panel and keeps the back side  110  of the main body  102  from rotating toward the door panel. Leveler  160  pivots around leveler pivot member  162  in a manner so that the amount of leveler  160  which extends beyond the back side  110  can be selected to accommodate for varying door panel thicknesses. A cup (not shown) can be inserted through orifice  185  in removable top  180 . A handle extending from the cup can extend through the void  103  in the front side  112  of main body  102 . The cup then can be retained within the apparatus  100 . However, if the user desires additional space, a slide-out drawer  130  can be pulled from the main body  102 , thereby creating a space for placing additional food items. If these additional food items are heavy, the supplemental support arm  136  can be pivoted upward around supplemental support pivot member  138 , so that it is engaged with the vehicle door panel. If it becomes necessary to clean the apparatus  100 , drawer  130  can be slid along slidetrack  170  until it reaches slide removal track  172  and then slid along that track and out of the main body  102 . If more containing space is desired and the cup is not disposed within the orifice  185 , then the drawer  130  can be slid along track  170  and French fry container  150  can be removed from the main body  102 , along with the drawer  130 . French fry container  150  then can be removed from drawer  130  and attached to the opposite side  120  of main body  102  through various means, including hooks, Velcro, snaps or any other suitable attachment means. If a different size orifice is desired, then removable top  180  can be removed from main body  102 , and an alternate removable top with a different sized orifice can be put in its place. Napkin retaining members  106  and  108  can be used to support napkins or any other article, such as tacos, etc. Similarly, French fry container  150  can be used to contain any item. 
     Now referring to FIG. 6, there is shown an alternate embodiment of the present invention in which the French fry container  150  of FIGS. 1,  3  and  4  is replaced with French fry container  250 , which is detachably and pivotally coupled with pull-out drawer  230  (which replaces pull-out drawer  130  of FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 ). French fry container  250  is coupled to drawer  230  with a rotating member  290  being coupled to the drawer and also attached to a pivoting arm  292 , which is coupled to French fry container  250  through detachable member  294 . The dashed lines represent intermediate and alternate positions of French fry holder  250 . A first edge  252  of French fry holder  250  is labeled in each intermediate and alternate position to assist in visualizing the pivoting process. The sauce container  144  of FIGS. 1,  3  and  4  is replaced with sauce container  244 , which is disposed on opposite side  120  of body  102 . The design and operation of apparatus  200  is similar to the design and operation of apparatus  100  in many respects, including the removal of the drawer  230  by causing the slide guide member  174  to proceed along slide removal track  172 . 
     It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, steps and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all other material advantages, the form herein described being merely a preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.