Abstract:
The invention relates to a holding device ( 10 ) for a drinks container. For space-saving housing of the holding device ( 10 ), the invention proposes constructing the holding device ( 10 ) as a recess ( 14 ), for example, in a dashboard ( 12 ) of a motor vehicle, and providing it with an ashtray ( 20 ) pivotable into and out of the recess ( 14 ). In the holding position pivoted out of the recess ( 14 ), the ashtray ( 20 ) closes the recess ( 14 ) laterally, so that, for example, a beaker ( 44 ) can be inserted in the recess ( 14 ). The invention has the advantage that the installation space for the ashtray ( 20 ) is simultaneously used also for insertion of the beaker ( 44 ) (FIG.  5 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a holding device for a drinks container, for example a drinks can, a beaker or a cup. 
   Such holding devices are known per se in an almost incalculable number of constructions. The invention is based on the problem of constructing a holding device for a drinks container so that it can be accommodated in a space-saving manner. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   That problem is solved in accordance with the invention by the features of Claim  1 . The holding device according to the invention has a receiving space into which the drinks container can be inserted, the receiving space being in the form of a recess, for example, in a dashboard, a centre console or the door panelling of a motor vehicle, in the back of a seat in a bus, aeroplane, cinema etc. or in arm rests of such seats. The receiving space is open to one side. A receptacle such as an ashtray, a storage box or a spectacle case is movably mounted at the receiving space by means of a guide. The receptacle can be brought into a closed position and into a holding position. In the closed position, the receptacle closes the receiving space for insertion of the drinks container. In the holding position, the receptacle closes the receiving space at the open side and leaves an insertion opening at the top of the receiving space free, so that the drinks container can be placed into the recess forming the receiving space. It is not necessary for an inserted drinks container to be surrounded circumferentially without interruption by the receiving space and the receptacle, it is sufficient for the receiving space and the receptacle to surround the drinks container at individual points of the circumference so that the drinks container cannot fall out. 
   The invention has the advantage that the holding device can be housed in space-saving manner, for example, in a dashboard, a centre console or a door panelling. In particular, the installation space taken up by, for example, an ashtray that is already present can additionally be used for the holding device according to the invention for the drinks container, so that the holding device according to the invention takes up no additional installation space. A further advantage of the invention is a possible simple construction of the holding device according to the invention with, for example, a single movable part, namely, the receptacle, on which perhaps additionally a lid can be mounted as second movable part. It is an added advantage that these parts are already provided, for example, in the form of an ashtray, so that no additional manufacturing and assembly costs are incurred. 
   A simple kind of guide for the receptacle is provided in one construction of the invention by forming the guide as a pivoting guide with a pivot bearing for the receptacle. 
   In a development of the invention, the holding device comprises a locking device with several locking positions for the receptacle. In this connection, one locking position holds the receptacle in the closed position, and the other locking positions hold the receptacle in several holding positions, in which the receptacle is moved to different extents out of the recess forming the receiving space for insertion of the drinks container. In this way, the insertion opening for the drinks container is of different size so-that drinks containers of different diameters are held secure against tilting. The locking device according to the invention has the advantage that the diameter of the holding device can be adapted in a simple manner to different drinks containers. 
   In a construction of the invention, a drip tray for catching liquid that escapes from a drinks container placed in the holding device is provided. The drip tray is preferably mounted on the receptacle. 
   In a preferred construction of the invention, the receptacle is detachably mounted at the recess forming the receiving space for the drinks container. As a result, firstly the drip tray can be emptied and cleaned, and the receptacle itself can likewise be emptied, which is necessary for example, if the receptacle is an ashtray. 
   In a construction of the invention, the receptacle forms an ashtray. 
   The invention is explained in detail hereinafter with reference to two exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1 to 3  show in a perspective view from different viewing directions a holding device according to the invention in different positions; 
       FIG. 4  shows the holding device of  FIGS. 1 to 3  in a central cross-section in a closed position; 
       FIG. 5  shows the holding device of  FIG. 4  in a holding position; and 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show a modified construction of a holding device according to the invention in a central cross-section in two different holding positions. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The holding device  10  according to the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3  for a drinks container, not illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , is accommodated, for example, in a dashboard  12  of a motor vehicle, not otherwise illustrated. Of the dashboard  12 , a fragment surrounding the holding device  10  is shown in the drawing. The holding device  10  comprises a receiving space  14  for insertion of the drinks container, the receiving space  14  being in the form, in plan view, of a U-shaped recess  14  in the dashboard  12 . The recess  14  is open at a top side; the open top side of the recess  14  forms an insertion opening  18  for insertion of the drinks container in the holding device  10 . Furthermore, the recess  14  forming the receiving space  14  is open to one side. Instead of being accommodated in a dashboard  12 , the holding device according to the invention can alternatively be accommodated, for example, in a centre console, a door panelling or an arm rest. 
   By means of a guide, a receptacle  20  is movably mounted at the recess  14  forming the receiving space for insertion of the drinks container. In the embodiment illustrated, the receptacle  20  is an ashtray with a hinged lid  22  at its upper side. The ashtray  20  is movable out of a closed position illustrated in  FIG. 3  into a holding position illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and vice versa. In the closed position, the ashtray  20  closes the recess  14  at its open side and the insertion opening  18  at the top side of the recess  14 . In the closed position, the ashtray  20  closes the recess  14  flush with the adjacent surfaces of the dashboard  12 . 
   In the holding position illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the ashtray  20  has been moved out of the dashboard  12  to the side, and therefore opens up the insertion opening  18  of the recess  14 . At the same time, the ashtray  20  closes the open side of the recess  14 , so that an inserted drinks container is held in the recess  14  secure against falling out and tilting. For that purpose, the ashtray  20  has a concave wall  24  on its side facing the recess  14 . The hinged lid  22  is openable in all positions of the ashtray  20 , so that the ashtray  20  can be used in both the closed position and the holding position. 
   The guide of the ashtray  20  of the holding device  10  according to the invention is in the form of a pivoting guide having a pivot bearing  26  ( FIG. 4 ). The pivot bearing  26  is arranged beneath the ashtray  20  and the recess  14  in the dashboard  12 . The ashtray  20  comprises two downwardly extending, laterally arranged arms  28  that are provided at their lower end with a bearing hole, with which they are pivotally mounted on bearing pins  30 . The bearing pins  30  are provided beneath the recess  14  on two lateral tongues  32  of the dashboard  12 , the tongues  32  projecting inwards from the inside of the dashboard  12 . By virtue of the pivot bearing  26 , the ashtray  20  is pivotable about a notional horizontal axis beneath the ashtray  20 . 
   By resiliently compressing the arms  28  of the ashtray  20 , the arms  28  can be disengaged from the pivot pins  30  and the ashtray  20  can be released from the holding device  10 , in order, for example, to be able to empty it. In the region of the pivot bearing  26  a locking device  34  is constructed, which holds the ashtray  20  in both the closed position and the holding position. To form the locking device  34 , an end edge  33  of the holding arms  28  is of semicircular form and concentric with respect to the pivot pins  30 . In the circumference of the end edge  33  there are two dished recesses  36  that co-operate with a leaf spring  38  secured to the tongues  32  of the dashboard  12 . A free end of the leaf spring  38  is bent to form a hook, a convex side of the “hook”  40  being located resiliently in one of the two recesses  36 . In this connection, in the closed position of the ashtray  20  the hook  40  lies in one of the two recesses  36  ( FIG. 4 ) and in the holding position in the other recess  36  ( FIG. 5 ), and consequently holds the ashtray  20  locked in the particular position. By pressure or by pulling on the ashtray  20 , the hook  40  of the leaf spring  38  can be pushed out of the recess  36  of the arm  28  of the ashtray  20  and in this way the ashtray  20  can be pivoted. 
   On its the concave wall  24  facing the recess  14 , the ashtray  20  has a drip tray  42 , which in the holding position of the ashtray  20  is horizontally aligned and closes the recess  14  at its underside ( FIG. 5 ). The drip tray  42  serves for placement of a drinks container (beaker)  44  indicated in  FIG. 5  by dot-dash lines, which is inserted into the recess  14 , forming the receiving space, of the holding device  10  according to the invention. The drip tray  42  serves to catch liquid spilled from the beaker  44  during travel. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  show a modified embodiment of the above-described holding device  10  according to the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 . Here, the ashtray  20  has no drip tray. The locking device  34  moreover has an additional locking position, illustrated in  FIG. 7 . To create the additional locking position, an extra recess  36  is located in the end edge  33  of the arm  28  of the ashtray  20 . The hook  40  of the leaf spring  38  engages therein when the ashtray  20  is pivoted out of the holding position illustrated in  FIG. 6  inwards towards the closed position. In the additional locking position, the ashtray  20  is located in a further holding position; compared with  FIG. 6 , it is pivoted inwards and reduces the insertion opening of the recess  14  of the dashboard  12  forming the receiving space for the drinks container  44 . In this way, a drinks container  44  of smaller diameter can be held safely in the receiving space of the holding device  10  according to the invention. With the exception of the above differences, the holding device  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  is of identical construction with and functions in the same manner as the holding device  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 . To avoid repetition, in respect of  FIGS. 6 and 7  the reader is referred to the remarks concerning  FIGS. 1 to 5 . The same reference numerals have been used for identical components.