Abstract:
A holder for a beverage container in a motor vehicle, has a beverage container receiver for insertion of a beverage container, a guide device for guiding the beverage container receiver a pivot point for pivoting back and forth between a non-use position and a use position, whereby a beverage container is insertable into the beverage container receiver in the use position, a movable support provided for moving the beverage container receiver and forming a blocking mechanism for the guide device of the beverage container receiver, which blocks lowering of the beverage container receiver in the use position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a holder for a beverage container in a motor vehicle. 
     A holder of that kind is known from DE 198 21 313.1. The known holder has a beverage container receiver, which has an insertion opening for inserting a beverage container such as, for example, a cup, a beaker or a beverage can. The beverage container receiver is mounted on a carriage, which is guided in a vertical direction from a lowered position into a raised position. Instead of the slide guide element, there may also be provided, for example, a scissors guide element or the like. In the known holder, the beverage container receiver is so mounted on the carriage by means of a pivot joint that it can be pivoted from a non-use position into a use position, in which the beverage container can be inserted into the beverage container receiver. In the known holder, the angle of pivot of the beverage container receiver from the non-use position to the use is 90° . Other angles of pivot, for example 180° , are also possible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The problem underlying the invention is therefore to construct a holder of the kind mentioned above which is stable when the beverage container receiver is in the user position. 
     In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of present invention resides, briefly stated, in a holder for a beverage container, in which the holder has a movable support for the beverage container receiver, which is moved into a support position supporting the beverage container and receiver on movement of the beverage container receiver into a raised position and/or on pivoting of the beverage container receiver into the use position, and at the same time the support forms a blocking mechanism for the guide device of the beverage container receiver, which blocks lowering of the beverage container receiver in the use position. 
     The holder according to the invention has a movable support, which supports the beverage container receiver in the raised, use position. By that means, the pivot joint, which otherwise is heavily loaded, has its load reduced. The support can be, for example, spring-loaded so that it moves into the support position automatically. The movement of the support into the support position can also be derived from the raising and/or pivoting of the beverage container receiver. Return of the support can be derived from the pivoting movement of the beverage container receiver into the non-use position. In as much as the movement of the support into the support position is derived from the raising or pivoting of the beverage container receiver, the return of the support can also be effected by spring force. 
     The support in the holder according to the invention at the same time forms a blocking mechanism, which blocks the guiding of the beverage container receiver in the raised position and, as a result, prevents unintentional lowering of the beverage container receiver. On pivoting of the beverage container receiver into the non-use position, the return movement of the support cancels its blocking action and allows the beverage container receiver to be lowered. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the support has a pivot joint in order that it can be mounted on the holder so as to be capable of moving as desired. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the beverage container receiver is made of two or, alternatively, more pieces. It has a movable piece, which is attached, for example displaceably or pivotally, to another piece of the beverage container receiver and which, when not in use, can be moved, at least partially, into that other piece. As a result, when not in use, the beverage container receiver can be accommodated in a relatively small space. In the use position, the movable piece of the beverage container receiver abuts a pivot block of the holder, as a result of which the beverage container receiver cannot be pivoted out of the use position into the non-use position when the movable piece of the beverage container receiver has been moved out from the other piece thereof. Because a beverage container inserted into the beverage container receiver prevents the movable piece of the beverage container receiver from being moved into the other piece thereof, this embodiment of the invention prevents pivoting of the beverage container receiver with a beverage container inserted. 
     In a development of the invention, the pivot block moves the movable piece of the beverage container receiver into the other piece of the beverage container receiver when the beverage container receiver is pivoted from the use position into the non-use position. Because the movable piece of the beverage container receiver, together with the pivot block, prevents pivoting of the beverage container receiver when a beverage container has been inserted, an inserted beverage container must be removed before the beverage container receiver is pivoted. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the holder has a locking device, which keeps the beverage container receiver locked in the non-use position when it is in the lowered position and during raising. The locking device is unlocked at the end of raising of the beverage container receiver. In this embodiment of the invention, pivoting of the beverage container receiver during raising is prevented, which has the advantage that skewing or mis-positioning of the beverage container receiver and, as a result, jamming or catching on surrounding components are avoided when the beverage container receiver is being raised. The locking device sets a chronological sequence for initially raising and subsequently pivoting the beverage container receiver into the use position. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the holder has a housing, on which the beverage container receiver is guided so that it can be raised. The housing has an opening for the beverage container receiver in its lowered and non-use position. When the beverage container receiver has been raised and pivoted into the use position, the opening in the housing is covered by a covering, especially by a cover flap pivotally mounted on the housing, in order to close the opening. The covering is opened as a result of pivoting of the beverage container receiver into the non-use position and/or lowering of the beverage container receiver opening of the covering is accordingly derived from the movement of the beverage container receiver; the covering does not need to be opened or closed manually. 
     The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a holder for a beverage container in a motor vehicle according to the invention in a use position; 
     FIG. 2 shows a view of the holder for a beverage container in a motor vehicle of FIG. 1 from the opposite position; 
     FIG. 3 shows the holder for a beverage container in a motor vehicle in a view according to FIG. 1 but cut away; and 
     FIG. 4 shows the holder for a beverage container in a motor vehicle of FIG. 1 in a lowered, non-use position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The holder  10  according to the invention shown in the drawings serves for insertion of a beverage container (not shown), such as, for example, a cup, a beaker or a beverage can. It is intended for recessed mounting in a motor vehicle, for example in a central console or in a position accessible from above in a door panel. The holder  10  has a housing  12  provided with an opening, which extends over an upper face and a side face of the housing  12 . In the housing  12 , a carriage  16  is so guided by means of a tongue and groove guide device  14  that it is displaceable in a vertical direction from a lowered position (FIG. 4) to a raised position (FIGS. 1 to  3 ). The carriage  16  is moved into the raised position by a scroll spring (tension spring) (not visible in the drawing). The carriage  16  is held in the lowered position by a locking device, which can be unlocked by means of a button  18  (FIG.  4 ). Such spring drives and locking devices will be familiar per se to the person skilled in the art and will not be described in greater detail herein because they do not constitute the actual subject of the invention. 
     A beverage container receiver  22  is so mounted on an upper face of the carriage  16  by means of a pivot pin connection  20  that it can pivot about a horizontal axis. The beverage container receiver  22  is pivoted in the use position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by a pivot spring element (again not visible in the drawing), for example a helical torsion spring, which will also be familiar to the person skilled in the art. In the use position, the beverage container (not shown) can be inserted into the beverage container receiver  22 . The beverage container receiver  22  has approximately the shape of a non-circular tube having a base, on which the beverage container (not shown) is placed. The beverage container receiver  22  is made of two pieces, having a first piece  24  and a movable piece  26 . The movable piece  26  is so mounted on the first piece  24  of the beverage container receiver  22  by means of a pivot pin connection that it can be pivoted about a pivotal axis  28  parallel to the axis of the beverage container receiver  22 . The first piece  24  extends more than 180° in a peripheral direction; the movable piece  26  closes the beverage container receiver  22  in the peripheral direction. The movable piece  26  can be pivoted into the first piece  24  of the beverage container receiver  22  about the pivotal axis  28  against the force of a pivot spring element (not visible in the drawing) so that a width of the beverage container receiver  22  becomes narrower when not in use. FIG. 4 shows the position of the movable piece  26  pivoted into the first piece  24  of the beverage container receiver  22 . In the position shown in FIG. 1, the movable pieces  26  abuts a nose  30  on the carriage  16 . The nose  30  projects upwards from the carriage  16  and forms a pivot block  30  for the beverage container receiver  22 . Because the movable piece  26  cannot be pivoted into the other piece  24  when a beverage container has been inserted into the beverage container receiver  22 , the movable piece  26  abutting the pivot block  30  prevents pivoting of the beverage container receiver  22  about the pivot pin connection  20 . If a beverage container has not been inserted into the beverage container receiver  22 , the beverage container receiver  22  can be pivoted about the pivot pin connection  20  through 180° into the nonuse position shown in FIG.  4 . During that pivoting, the nose  30  forming the pivot block  30  on the carriage  16  presses the movable pieces  26  of the beverage container receiver  22  into the other piece  24  of the beverage container receiver  22 . 
     Mounted in the beverage container receiver  22  is a compensating flap  32 , known per se, which can pivot and is spring-loaded, and which presses a beverage container inserted into the beverage container receiver  22  against the pieces  24 ,  26  of the beverage container receiver  22  in order to adapt the beverage container receiver  22  to beverage container of different diameters. 
     Mounted on the carriage  16 , below the beverage container receiver  22 , is a support  34  (FIGS.  2  and  3 ), which can be pivoted about a vertical axis. A pivot spring element in the form of a helical torsion spring  36  pivots the support  34  into the support position shown in FIGS. 1 to  3 , wherein the support  34  stands out laterally from the carriage  16  and the beverage container receiver  22  lies on the support  34  and is supported by the support  34 . In the support position pivoted out from the carriage  16 , a lower face of the support  34  overlies an upper edge  38  of the housing  12  of the holder  10  according to the invention. By that means, the support  34 , when in the support position, prevents the carriage  16  from being displaced downwards (lowered); at the same time, the support  34  forms a blocking mechanism for the carriage  16 . When the beverage container receiver  22  is pivoted from the use position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 through 180° into the non-use position shown in FIG. 4, the outer face of the beverage container receiver  22  presses against a nose  40  on the support  34  which extends through the carriage  22  presses against a nose  40  on the support  34  which extends through the carriage  16 ; the beverage container receiver  22  pivots the support  34 , against the force of its pivot spring  36 , into a position lying against the carriage  16  wherein the support  34  does not overlie the upper edge  38  of the housing  12  so that the carriage  16  can be moved downwards. 
     A lateral region of the opening in the housing  12  for the beverage container receiver  22  is covered by a cover flap  42 . The cover flap  42  is so mounted on the carriage  16  by means of a pivot pin connection that it can be pivoted about a horizontal axis in the region of its upper edge. Projecting upwards from the cover flap  42  is a nose  44 , which, on pivoting of the beverage container receiver  22  into the non-use position shown in FIG. 4, is pivoted to the side. As a result, the cover flap  42  is pivoted into the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4 lying against the beverage container receiver  22 . 
     The holder  10  has a locking device, which blocks pivoting of the beverage container receiver  22  in the non-use position, provided that the carriage  16  is not in its upper position. The locking device has a blocking bar  46 , which is so mounted on the carriage  16  that it can be pivoted about pivot pin  48 . The blocking bar  46  is urged upwards by a pivot spring in the form of a helical torsion spring  50 . When the carriage  16  is in the upper position (shown in FIGS. 1 to  3 ), a retaining nose  52  abuts a rib of the housing  12  and urges the blocking bar  46  downwards against the force of its pivot spring  50 . If the carriage  16  is below its upper position, the pivot spring  50  urges the blocking bar  46  upwards, as a result of which a blocking lug  54  arranged on the upper face of the blocking bar  46  extends upwards out of the carriage  16 . The blocking lug  54  engages behind an edge of the beverage container receiver  22 , when the beverage container receiver  22  is in the non-use position, so that the latter does not pivot. When the carriage  16  reaches its upper position, the retaining nose  52  presses the blocking bar  46  downwards so that the blocking lug  54  on the blocking bar  46  disengages from the beverage container receiver  22  and the latter pivots into its use position (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) under spring action. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in holder for a beverage container in a motor vehicle, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.