Adjustable cup holder base height

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10099594-B2
Application number	US-201615225288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2016
Priority date	Aug 1, 2016
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle cup holder assembly having a cup holder defining an interior volume and a cup holder base having a depth relative to a top surface of the cup holder. A spring may be positioned between a bottom edge of the cup holder base and a console bottom surface. The cup holder assembly may have a user interface. The cup holder assembly may also have a side member of the cup holder base positioned in a side space. The depth of the cup holder base may be adjusted by a mechanism controlled by the user interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable vehicle cup holder assembly comprising:
a cup holder base having a depth relative to a top surface of a cup holder configured to position a beverage container;
a spring positioned between a bottom edge of the cup holder base and a console bottom surface;
an interface defining a member opening and including a sliding member positioned within the member opening; and
a finger operated actuator assembly mechanism configured to adjust the depth of the cup holder base controlled by the interface.

2. The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a knob, a switch, a toggle, a button, and/or a touch screen.

3. The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein a side wall of the cup holder comprises a plurality of assembly holes to house an actuator rod.

4. The adjustable vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sliding member is coupled to an actuator rod and is configured to retract and extend the actuator rod.

5. The adjustable vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a side member coupled to the cup holder base forming a single member.

6. The adjustable vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator spring positioned between two retaining members and coupled to an actuator rod.

7. A vehicle cup holder assembly comprising:
a cup holder base having a depth relative to a top surface of a cup holder configured to position a beverage container;
an interface; and
a mechanism controlled by the interface to adjust the depth of the cup holder base, wherein the mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a motorized assembly and a solenoid assembly.

8. The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 7 , wherein a spring is positioned between a bottom edge of the cup holder base and a console bottom surface.

9. The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 7 , wherein the interface comprises an up/down switch, a knob, a switch, a toggle, a button, and/or a touch screen.

10. The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 7 , wherein the motorized assembly comprises a motor, a first motor pinion gear, and a first movable vertical rack coupled to the cup holder base.

11. The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a side member coupled to the cup holder base forming a single member.

12. The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second pinion gear movably coupled to a second vertical rack and coupled to the cup holder base.

13. The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first moveable vertical rack is coupled to the cup holder base forming a single member.

14. The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a plunger coupled to the solenoid assembly wherein a side wall of the cup holder comprises a plurality of assembly holes to house the plunger.

15. The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 14 , further comprising:
a side member coupled to the cup holder base forming a single member.

16. The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 15 , wherein the second pinion gear is coupled to the side member.

17. A method for adjusting a depth within a cup holder, comprising the steps of:
positioning a container within the cup holder;
initiating an interface to activate a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a finger operated actuator assembly, a motorized assembly, and a solenoid assembly to raise or lower the cup holder base; and
adjusting the cup holder base to one of a plurality of different depths that accommodates the container.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the mechanism is a motorized assembly and the user interface is an up/down switch; and wherein the motorized assembly comprises a motor, a motor pinion gear, and a movable vertical rack coupled to the cup holder base.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the mechanism is a finger operated actuator assembly including a sliding member coupled to an actuator rod and the user interface is a member opening; and wherein a side wall of the cup holder comprises a plurality of assembly holes to house the actuator rod.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the mechanism is a solenoid assembly coupled to a plunger and the user interface is an initiator switch; and wherein a side wall of the cup holder comprises a plurality of assembly holes to house the plunger.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salinas Fernando Cesar
• Newton Robert G

Classifications

• B60N3/105 Primary

  for receptables of different size or shape · CPC title

• B60N3/10

  of receptacles for food or beverages, e.g. refrigerated · CPC title

• B60R2011/0084

  with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position · CPC title

• B60R2011/0092

  with motorization · CPC title

• B60R11/02

  for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof · CPC title