Patent Publication Number: US-2022212608-A1

Title: Retractable cup holder device mount

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates generally to mounts to retain portable electronic devices, and more particularly to a retractable cup holder device mount. 
     2. Related Art 
     A wide variety of portable electronic devices are currently in existence on the market, though there has been a recent convergence towards a fewer category of devices that fulfill many needs. Typically, these are smartphones that which integrate functions and features that may have earlier been provided in separate, independent devices such as music players, gaming consoles, personal digital assistants, digital still and video cameras, electronic readers, mapping and navigation devices, and so on. Several short-to-medium range communications modalities are also integrated, including WiFi and Bluetooth for short-range/local data transfer links, as well as cellular communications systems that can substantially extend its communicative range. 
     When interacting with the smartphone for a brief moment, it may be held in the hand and placed back down following use. However, there may be some situations in which the user is performing a primary task not with or relating to the smartphone, e.g., operating a motor vehicle. Indeed, under most U.S. state distracted driving laws, the use of mobile devices while driving is prohibited. However, there is a need for viewing the display of the mobile device while operating the vehicle, such as for navigation purposes, or to answer incoming telephone calls via a headset or the vehicle sound system. 
     In response to these needs, various mounting devices have been developed. One configuration is a cradle that mechanically retains the smartphone, with the cradle being mounted to a structure. The compressive retention mechanisms are oftentimes cumbersome to engage and/or disengage, so more recently, magnetic mounts are being utilized. A mount head including one or more permanent magnets are fixed to the structure, with a metallic plate being attached to the rear of the smartphone. The magnets on the mount engage the metallic plate, thereby releasably engaging the smartphone to the mount. 
     Whether utilizing a mechanical/compressive retention or a magnetic retention, the mount is attached to a location within the interior of the vehicle that is visible and accessible by the driver and/or passengers. A variety of attachment modalities are known in the art, including suction cups and adhesives that secure the mount to a surface such as the windshield or the dashboard, adapters that fit within cupholders in the center console or within the compact disc player slot, as well as clips that attach to the louvers or grilles of air conditioning vents. 
     There are certain disadvantages associated with these mounting modalities. Suction cups rely upon a vacuum created between the open face of the cup and the mounting surface and requires a non-porous surface to establish and maintain the vacuum seal. Leather and textured vinyl/plastic surfaces typically found on the dashboard therefore do not remain in adequate engagement with the suction cup, so windshields and side windows are generally selected, notwithstanding the obstruction to the visual field of the driver. Moreover, temperature and pressure variations encountered in normal operating conditions weaken the hold of the suction cup, and the material of the suction cups tend to degrade over time and diminish the capacity to maintain the vacuum space. The use of adhesive sheets to couple to mount to the surface of the dashboard surface is also known, though extreme high and low temperatures can similarly degrade the adhesion strength of the material. 
     Vehicle interiors typically incorporate multiple cup holders. With an increasing amount of time being spent in automobiles due to longer commute times, farther destinations, and increased traffic, the need for enjoying refreshments while being otherwise idle expanded the demand for cup holders and other driver and passenger convenience features. A variety of cup holder designs are known in the art and include adjustment mechanisms to accommodate and securely retain a wide range of beverage container sizes. Although earlier cup holders were mere afterthoughts, in modern vehicles cup holders are integrated into the interior design. Common locations for cup holders include armrests, dashboards, and the center console—and in most cases, within immediate reach of the driver or passenger without obstructing essential vehicle controls. Accordingly, cup holders are suitable mount points for portable electronic devices, and mounting devices adapted therefor are known in the art. 
     Permanent or semi-permanent attachment of mounts to the vehicle interior structure is desirable to avoid the inconvenience of manipulating the mount hardware upon each use. However, to the extent the location of the mount is near an essential vehicle control (such as gear shifter, a hand brake, air conditioning dial/button, etc.) it may be necessary to remove the device and/or the mount entirely to access the control. Cup holder mounts, due to their proximity to the center console where such essential controls are typically located, are prone to this deficiency. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a device mount that can be attached to a cup holder within the vehicle interior but moved away to provide access to vehicle controls without removal of the mount or the electronic device. There is also a need in the art for a retractable cup holder device mount. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure contemplates various embodiments of a retractable cup holder device mount. In one embodiment, the device mount may include a cup holder base that is defined by an open end and a base interior chamber. The device mount may also include a base stalk platform with a platform clevis, and the base stalk platform may also be fitted over the open end of the cup holder base. There may be a device mount neck with a neck clevis and a mounting head joint. The device mount may additionally include an extension stalk that is rotatably engaged to the platform clevis and to the device mount neck through a common longitudinal slot that is defined through the extension stalk. The extension stalk may be selectively receivable within the base interior chamber of the cup holder base. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure contemplates a retractable cup holder device mount with a cupholder base. The cupholder base may include a platform clevis with a pair of opposing arms extending from a base platform. In turn, the base platform may define a passageway between the arms of the platform clevis. The mount may further include a device mount neck with a mounting head joint and a neck clevis. The neck clevis may include a pair of opposing arms extending from a neck body. There may additionally be an extension stalk that is in movable engagement with the platform clevis and to the device mount neck. The extension stalk may be receivable into the passageway of the cupholder base platform. 
     Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure may be a cup holder device mount that includes a cup holder base defining a base interior chamber with an open end and a closed end. The cup holder base may additionally define a substantially frustoconical side wall, which may include one or more apertures. The device mount may include a base stalk platform with a platform clevis, which is fitted over the open end of the cup holder base. There may also be a device mount neck including a neck clevis and a mounting head joint. The device mount may additionally incorporate an extension stalk that is rotatably engaged to the platform clevis and to the device mount neck through a slot defined through the extension stalk. The extension stalk may be selectively receivable within the base interior chamber of the cup holder base. The device mount may also include one or more cup holder engagement plugs extending through a corresponding one of the one or more apertures on the frustoconical side wall. 
     The present disclosure will be best understood accompanying by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a retractable cup holder device mount according to the present disclosure with a stalk shown in an extended position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the retractable cup holder device mount with the stalk shown in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed exploded perspective view of a stalk assembly of the retractable cup holder device mount; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed exploded perspective view of a cup holder base assembly of the retractable cup holder device mount; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the retractable cup holder device mount with the cup holder engagement members in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the retractable cup holder device mount with the cup holder engagement members in an extended position; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the several presently contemplated embodiments of a retractable cup holder device mount and is not intended to represent the only form in which such embodiments may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and features in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another entity without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , one embodiment of a retractable cup holder device mount  10 , also referenced simply as a mount  10 , incorporates an extension stalk  12  that can recede into a cup holder base  14 . The mount  10 , and specifically the cup holder base  14 , is configured to be positioned within the recess of a cup holder. The mount  10  is contemplated for use in the interior of automobiles or other personal vehicles where an operator may desire to position a portable electronic device for ready accessibility, though this is by way of example only and not of limitation. Any other application where a cup holder is re-purposed for securing a device with the mount  10  may be substituted. 
     The cup holder base  14  is contemplated to be received within a cylindrical recess of typical cup holders, so it is correspondingly shaped. In this regard, the cup holder base  14  has a flat circular bottom  16  and a circumferential wall  18 . In the embodiment shown, the circumferential wall  18  is tapered toward the flat circular bottom  16  in a frustoconical shape, though this is exemplary only and any other shape suitable for receptive engagement within a cup holder structure may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The cup holder base  14  generally defines an interior chamber  20 , and opposite the flat circular bottom  16  is an open top end  22 . Additional components make up the cup holder base  14 , the details of which will be described more fully below. 
     The mount  10  further includes a base stalk platform  24  that is positioned or fitted over the open top end  22  of the cup holder base  14  and partially encloses the same. In further detail, the base stalk platform  24  has a platform clevis  26  with a first clevis arm  26   a  and a second clevis arm  26   b  that extend from a center region of a platform base  28 . The part of the platform base  28  between the first clevis arm  26   a  and the second clevis arm  26   b  is open to the interior chamber  20 , and is understood to be coextensive with the open top end  22  of the cup holder base  14 . 
     The extension stalk  12  is envisioned to be in a sliding/receptive engagement with the platform clevis  26  and compressively retained between the first clevis arm  26   a  and the second clevis arm  26   b . The extension stalk  12  has a unitary elongate structure that defines a common longitudinal slot  30  extending between opposed closed ends  32   a  and  32   b . In this regard, the extension stalk  12  may also be described as having first and second longitudinal rails  34   a ,  34   b  with the common longitudinal slot  30  between the two structures. The rounded shape of the closed ends  32   a ,  32   b  are exemplary only, and any other shape may be substituted. The top and bottom ends of the common longitudinal slot  30  is understood to be circular to accommodate the clevis pins as will be detailed below. Because the extension stalk  12  is in sliding/receptive engagement with the platform clevis  26 , the thickness of the longitudinal rails  34  may be less than, or at least substantially correspond to the distance between the first clevis arm  26   a  and the second clevis arm  26   b . In order to minimize the flexing necessary to compressively retain the extension stalk  12  in position, however, the differential between the clevis arm spacing and the extension stalk  12  thickness is minimized. 
     The compressive force applied to the extension stalk  12  is further increased with a platform clevis pin  36  extending transversely though the common longitudinal slot  30  and across the first and second clevis arms  26   a ,  26   b  of the platform clevis  26 . To accommodate the platform clevis pin  36 , each of the first and second clevis arms  26   a ,  26   b  define respective first and second clevis pin holes  38   a ,  38   b  that are in axial alignment with each other. The platform clevis pin  36  is threaded, and a handle  40  is attached to an end thereof. Threaded on to the platform clevis pin  36  once inserted through the platform clevis  26  and the extension stalk  12  is a hex nut  41  received within a hexagonally shaped receptacle  42  that is defined within a boss  44  on the first clevis arm  26   a . The receptacle  42  is understood to restrict rotational movement of the hex nut  41  while the platform clevis pin  36  is rotated by way of the handle  40 , and so the tool-less loosening and tightening of the gripping force of the clevis arms  26  against the extension stalk  12  is possible. 
     With the platform clevis pin  36  inserted through the extension stalk  12 , it may be considered to be in rotational engagement with the platform clevis  26 . At the maximum extension of the extension stalk  12  relative to the platform clevis  26  as shown in  FIG. 1 , the rounded bottom end of the common longitudinal slot  30  abuts against the platform clevis pin  36  and is able to be rotated about the same. In addition to rotating about the pin axis, the extension stalk  12  may be slid through the opening of the platform base  28  and into the interior chamber  20 . When the desired position of the extension stalk  12  relative to the platform clevis  26  is achieved, the platform clevis pin  36  may be tightened on to the hex nut  41  to prevent rotational and sliding movement of the extension stalk  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the extension stalk  12  may be retracted into the cup holder base  14 , with the limit thereof being where the closed end  32   b  abuts against the bottom of the interior chamber  20 . 
     The mount  10  also includes a device mount neck  46  that is generally defined by a mounting head joint  48 , a neck clevis  50 , and a center linking portion  52  between the mounting head joint  48  and the neck clevis  50 . Like the platform clevis  26 , the neck clevis  50  is comprised of a first clevis arm  50   a  and a second clevis arm  50   b , each of which define respective clevis pin holes  54   a ,  54   b  that are in axial alignment with each other. The first clevis arm  50   a  further defines a boss  56  with a hexagonal receptacle  58  for another hex nut  60 . 
     There is a neck clevis pin  62  that is threaded and includes a handle  64  for manual rotation. The neck clevis  50  is positioned on to the extension stalk  12  such that the common longitudinal slot  30  is in alignment with the clevis pin holes  54 . The neck clevis pin  62  is inserted through the neck clevis  50  and the extension stalk  12 , and is thus the device mount neck  46  is in rotating engagement with the extension stalk  12 . That is, the neck clevis pin  62  extends transversely through the common longitudinal slot  30  and across the clevis arms  50   a ,  50   b  of the neck clevis  50 . Like the platform clevis pin  36  discussed above, the neck clevis pin  62  is threaded on to the hex nut  60  and hand-tightened, thereby applying a compressive force to the clevis arms  50   a ,  50   b  against the extension stalk  12 . 
     In one contemplated embodiment, the device mount neck does not include an opening at the center linking portion end of the neck clevis  50 . As such, in order to slide the neck clevis  50  down the extension stalk  12 , it may be necessary to rotate the neck clevis  50  away from an axial aligned position with respect to the common longitudinal slot  30 . In the position of maximum extension, the neck clevis pin  62  abuts against the closed top end of the common longitudinal slot  30 . 
     The mounting head joint  48  is configured to be engageable to a counterpart joint member that is fixed to a device mount head. It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that any suitable device mount head may be utilized, including magnetic mount heads, mechanical/clamping heads, and combination charging/magnetic mount heads, among many others. As referenced herein, the device mount head is understood to be any modality by which a second object (e.g., a portable electronic device) is secured to the mount  10 . The joint member that links the device mount head to the mounting head joint  48  may likewise be varied. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting head joint  48  is a ball joint socket  66  comprised of multiple collets  68  that together define a spherical or partially spherical recess. A counterpart ball joint may be inserted into the ball joint socket  66 , and be compressively retained therein by tightening a collet nut  70 . Although a ball joint socket is illustrated, other embodiments may reverse the ball and the socket where the ball extends from the center linking portion  52  via a smaller, secondary stalk. Furthermore, while a ball joint modality has been described, it should be noted that any other suitable rotatable engagement modality may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In some cases, the portable electronic device may be attached to the mount  10 , and connected to a wired data and/or power connection. To better guide the cable to the device, the mount  10  may include a cable routing clip  72  that is in sliding engagement with the extension stalk  12 , and specifically the longitudinal rails  34  thereof. The cable routing clip  72  may be defined by a hook portion  74  that receptively engages the cable, along with mount claws  76  that is sized and shaped for compressively engaging with the longitudinal rail  34 . To this end, the cable routing clip  72  may be constructed of a rigid material with some degree of flex, such as plastic, to maintain compressive engagement with one of the longitudinal rails  34 . Relatively free movement of the cable routing clip  72  would also be preferable, so materials with higher frictional coefficients may not be ideal in such embodiments. 
     As indicated above, the cup holder base  14  may be comprised of additional components, though these are understood to be optional. The cup holder base  14  in the illustrated embodiment is understood to be adjustable, that is, the effective circumference can be expanded and narrowed depending on the specific size of the cup holder in which it is received. One possible embodiment utilizes a series of plugs  80  that are selectively extended and retracted from the interior of the cup holder base  14 . Specifically, as shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 4 , there are four plug assemblies  80   a ,  80   b ,  80   c , and  80   d  for each of the four general sectors of the circumferential wall  18 . Each of the plug assemblies  80  includes a corresponding inner plug  82  with an elastomeric pad  84  attached to an outer face  86  thereof. Additionally, each plug assembly  80  includes an outer shell  88  within which the inner plug  82  is nested, with the inner plug  82  being in a sliding relation to the outer shell  88 . As will be described in further detail below, a desirable effective circumference may be set depending on the extension distance of the inner plug  82  and/or the outer shell  88  from the circumferential wall  18 . 
     Such lateral extension of the plug assembly  80  (relative to the longitudinal axis of the cup holder base  14 ) may be achieved with a pair of dual pivoting arms  90  including an upper dual pivoting arm  90   a  and a lower dual pivoting arm  90   b . In some embodiments, these may also be referred to as an extension arm With additional reference to the cross-sectional views of  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the upper dual pivoting arm  90   a  includes an inner pivot pin  92   a  and an outer pivot pin  92   b , and the lower dual pivoting arm  90   b  likewise includes an inner pivot pin  94   a  and an outer pivot pin  94   b . The interior side of the inner plug  82  defines an upper bearing  96   a  and a lower bearing  96   b  that are in pivoting engagement with the upper and lower dual pivoting arms  90   a ,  90   b , respectively. In further detail, the outer pivot pin  92   b  of the upper dual pivoting arm  90   a  is rotatably coupled to the upper bearing  96   a , and the outer pivot pin  94   b  of the lower dual pivoting arm  90   b  is rotatably coupled to the lower bearing  96   b.    
     The upper and lower dual pivoting arms  90  are each mounted to a shuttle  98  that includes corresponding bearings therefor. The shuttle  98  is understood to have a hollow cylindrical structure with an inner threaded wall  100  and an outer wall  102 . On the outer wall  102 , there is an upper bearing  104   a  and a lower bearing  104   b  corresponding to each pair of the dual pivoting arms  90 . The inner pivot pin  92   a  of the upper dual pivoting arm  90   a  is rotatably coupled to the upper bearing  104   a , while the inner pivot pin  94   a  of the lower dual pivoting arm  90   b  is rotatably coupled to the lower bearing  104   b . The vertical up-and-down movement of the shuttle  98  is understood to be translated into the lateral extension of the plug assemblies  80 , with  FIG. 5  showing the minimal extension of the dual pivoting arms  90  resulting from the shuttle  98  being raised to its maximum limit, and  FIG. 6  showing the maximum extension of the dual pivoting arms  90  resulting from the shuttle  98  being lowered to its minimum limit. 
     The vertical, up-and-down movement of the shuttle  98  is made possible with a rotor  105  to which the inner threaded wall  100  is coupled. More particularly, the rotor  105  includes a hollow threaded shaft  106  and a circular or frustoconical knob head  108 . To provide an opening into the interior of the hollow threaded shaft  106 , the knob head  108  also defines an opening  110 . As the knob head  108 , and hence the shaft  106  is rotated, the shuttle  98  is understood to move up and down the threading of the shaft  106 . 
     The foregoing assembly of the rotor  105 , shuttle  98 , the upper and lower dual pivoting arms  90 , and the plug assemblies  80  are disposed within a mount receptacle  112  that defines the aforementioned wall  18 . The mount receptacle  112 , and hence the circumferential wall  18 , defines a series of apertures  115  that are generally aligned with the positioning of the plug assemblies  80 . Furthermore, each of the apertures  115  may further be bounded by a pair of opposed interior guide walls  117  that maintain the outer shell  88  in alignment with the lateral movement axis thereof. 
     The cup holder base  14  may further including a guide frame  116  fitted over the opening of the mount receptacle  112 . The guide frame  116  is defined by an circular bearing frame that is in freely rotating engagement with the knob head  108 . Attached to the knob head  108  may be a knob coupling  113 , as well as a knob decorative piece  114 . The knob decorative piece  114  may have a tactile surface by which the user can rotate the rotor  105 . 
     As indicated above, various embodiments of the present disclosure contemplate the extension stalk  12  being recessed within the interior of the cup holder base  14 . In this regard, there is also a stalk receptacle  130  that is inserted into the hollow portion of the rotor  105 /shaft  106 . The stalk receptacle  130  defines a flanged face  118  with a set of spaced fastener holes  120 , which may be aligned with corresponding fastener channels defined on the platform base  28  for attachment thereto with fasteners  122 . Along these lines, the stalk receptacle  130  may also be attached to the mount receptacle  112  with fasteners  124 . The hollow interior of the stalk receptacle  130  is understood to correspond to/equivalent to the aforementioned interior chamber  20  of the cup holder base  14 . 
     The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the retractable cup holder device mount and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects. In this regard, no attempt is made to show details with more particularity than is necessary, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present disclosure may be embodied in practice.