Abstract:
A cup holder for securely retaining a container, the cup holder includes a body having a radially extending flange. A series of upwardly extending arms are attached to the flange and adapted for pivotal movement thereabout. A rotating member is interconnected to the series of arms whereby the arms inwardly extend and are configured to collectively expand and contract.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to cup holders, and more particularly to a cup holder having inwardly extending, radially biased retaining arms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Container holders are well known to be incorporated into moving vehicles and the like. The container holders are generally configured to provide an adequate aperture suitable for retaining a cup or beverage such that the contents do not spill while the vehicle is in transit. 
     Because beverage containers are available in many sizes having unique circumferences, adjustable beverage containers have been developed. However, existing adjustable container holders have many disadvantages. Some holders are adjustable to a set circumference to secure a given beverage but become widened during transit from the inertial forces of the beverage and vehicle. Other holders are awkward and difficult to insert a beverage with one hand. 
     It would be desirable to provide an adjustable container holder that can securely grasp containers having different sizes, easily adjust to the desired size and provide continuous retention desirable for a secure hold. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a container holder having adjustable arms adaptable to retain a variety of containers having unique circumferences. 
     In one form, the present invention provides a container holder having a cylindrical body including a base and an open upper end, the body defining an inner space. A series of arms are pivotally connected to the body and adapted to extend into the inner space. The arms are configured to collectively expand and contract. 
     In another form, the present invention provides a container holder having a body including a radially extending flange. A series of upwardly extending arms are attached to the flange and adapted for pivotal movement thereabout. A rotating member is interconnected to the series of arms whereby the arms inwardly extend and are configured to collectively expand and contract. 
     In yet another form, the present invention provides a container holder including a body having a base. A series of arms are pivotally attached to the base and extend radially inwardly, the series of arms configured to collectively actuate inwardly and outwardly. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cup holder according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cup holder rotated upon a horizontal axis 180 degrees to illustrate the biased rotatable disk. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cup holder illustrating the arms in a fully expanded position. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cup holder illustrating the arms in a contracted position. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cup holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment rotated upon a horizontal axis 180 degrees to illustrate the biased rotatable disk. 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of the arms of the second embodiment in a fully expanded position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With initial reference to the perspective view of FIG. 1, the container holder according to the preferred embodiment is illustrated and generally identified at reference numeral  10 . Holder  10  generally includes an upwardly extending circumferential body  12  defining inner space  18  having an upper and lower outwardly extending flange portion  14 ,  16 . Holder  10  further includes first, second and third inwardly extending arms  20 ,  22  and  24 . Arms  20 ,  22  and  24  are pivotally attached to the upper and lower flange  14 ,  16  and extend through first, second and third aperture  26 ,  28  and  30  configured in the body  12 . 
     With continued reference to FIG.  1  and further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the structure and operation of the container holder  10  will be described in greater detail. First arm  20  includes an upper and lower pivot post  34 ,  36  which are adapted to extend through and rotate about first upper aperture and first lower aperture  38 ,  40  in upper and lower flange  14 ,  16  respectively. Similarly, second arm  22  includes an upper and lower pivot post  42 ,  44  which are adapted to extend through and rotate about second upper aperture and second lower aperture  46 ,  48  respectively. Likewise, third arm  24  includes upper and lower pivot post  50 ,  52  which extend through and rotate about third upper aperture and third lower aperture  54 ,  56  respectively. 
     First and second arm  20 ,  22  include upwardly extending fingers  60 ,  62 . Fingers  60 ,  62  are generally contoured outwardly to facilitate entrance of a container into the holder  10 . In addition, third arm  24  includes an entrance notch  64  incorporated thereon. The entrance notch  64  further improves ease of accessibility to the inner space  18  of the body  10 . Explained further, a container may be placed on the portion of the upper flange aligned with the entrance notch  64  of the third arm  24  and be slid inwardly toward the first and second fingers  60 ,  62  of the first and second arm  20 ,  22  until engagement therewith whereby the container may be directed toward the inner space  18  until resting upon the stationary platform  70 . 
     With continued reference to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , body  12  includes first, second and third step sections  72 ,  74  and  76  radially disposed therearound. The step sections  72 ,  74  and  76  operatively connect stationary platform  70  to body  12 . First second and third arms  20 ,  22  and  24  include first second and third feet  80 ,  82  and  84  extending inwardly between stationary platform  70  and rotating disk  58 . Guide posts  100 ,  102  and  104  extend substantially perpendicular to feet  80 ,  82  and  84  and extend through guide channels  110 ,  112  and  114  in rotating disk  58 . Rotating disk  58  includes first and second inner spring posts  86 ,  88 . Similarly, lower flange includes first and second spring posts  90 ,  92 . Springs  94 ,  96  connect the first and second spring posts  86 ,  88  of the rotating disk  58  to the first and second spring post  90 ,  92  of the lower flange  16  respectively. Fastener  94  connects rotating disk  58  to stationary platform  70  for rotational engagement therewith. 
     Springs  94 ,  96  are configured to bias the rotating disk  58  such that first, second and third arms  20 ,  22  and  24  are oriented to extend radially toward the inner space  18  of body  12 . The relationship between the rotating disk  58  and the respective guide posts  100 ,  102  and  104  allows movement of one arm to rotate the rotating disk  58  thereby influencing collective movement of all arms  20 ,  22  and  24 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, arms  20 ,  22  and  24  are configured to actuate from a contracted first position (FIG. 4, radius A) to an expanded second position (FIG. 3, radius B). Upon insertion of a container into the holder, the container is influenced against first or (and) second arm(s)  20 ,  22  in an outboard direction toward upper flange  14 . The movement of any arm  20 ,  22  or  24  in an outboard direction causes outboard movement of all arms  20 ,  22  and  24  creating an opening compatible with the outer circumference of the container. Once the container is suitably inserted into the holder  10  and is resting upon the stationary platform  70 , springs  94 ,  96  bias arms  20 ,  22  and  24  inwardly against the container to provide retention. Since the arms  20 ,  22  and  24  adapt to translate inwardly and outwardly, the holder may accept a wide variety of containers having unique circumferences. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 5-7, the holder  10 ′ according to a second embodiment is illustrated. Like components are referred to with like reference numerals. Holder  10 ′ includes first, second and third arms  20 ′,  22 ′ and  24 ′. The second embodiment does not include cylindrical body  12  or upper flange  14 . Because the fingers  60 ′,  62 ′ of arms  20 ′ and  22 ′ are not limited to expanding until contact with an upper flange  14 , the arms  20 ′,  22 ′ and  24 ′ may outwardly expand to a radius consistent with the mounting location of the arms (FIG. 7, radius C) 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.