Patent ID: 7344056

Claim:
A collapsible container holder assembly for carrying a container in a vehicle, said container holder comprising: a carrier portion having at least one recessed opening extending between a top end and an opposite bottom end of said carrier portion; at least one container receptor portion having a generally horizontal and planar support surface integral with and forming a closed bottom end of the container receptor portion for supporting a bottom end of the container, said container receptor portion being adjustable relative to said carrier portion between a collapsed position disposed within said recessed portion and an extended position protruding axially and downwardly relative to said bottom end of said carrier portion, wherein said container receptor portion comprises at least one retaining arm disposed on an exterior surface thereof, said at least one retaining arm hookingly engaging a peripheral edge of the carrier portion to prevent said at least one container receptor portion from being pushed out from said carrier portion when said at least one container receptor portion is moved to said collapsed position; and a locking mechanism for locking said at least one container receptor portion in said extended position, said locking mechanism being locked by rotating said at least one container receptor portion in a first direction while extended and unlocked by rotating the at least one container receptor portion in an opposite second direction, said locking mechanism comprising: an arm protruding from an exterior surface of said container receptor portion toward said carrier portion, said arm being spaced apart from and generally parallel with a radially outwardly extending rim of said container receptor portion; and a flange protruding from an interior surface of said carrier potion toward said container receptor portion, said flange being aligned in the axial direction between said arm and said rim when said container receptor portion is in said extended position, said flange being retained between said arm and said rim after said rotation of said at least one container receptor portion in said first direction to lock said at least one container receptor portion in said extended position, said arm having a boss that extends generally axially toward said rim of said container receptor portion, said flange having a recess that is complementary with said boss and receives said boss therein to resist rotation of said at least one container receptor portion relative to said carrier portion.