Universal cup holder adapter for vehicles including temperature control feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11535141-B2
Application number	US-202016941065-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2020
Priority date	Jul 29, 2020
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A universal adapter is disclosed for a cup holder included in the console of a vehicle. The universal adapter includes: a bezel; at least one receptacle extending from the bezel; and an electronic temperature control unit supported by the bezel. The bezel is configured in correspondence with a recess defined by the console such that movement of the universal adapter is inhibited via contact between an outer wall of the bezel and an inner wall of the console defining the recess. The at least one receptacle is receivable by the cup holder and is configured to receive a beverage container. The electronic temperature control unit is in electrical communication with the at least one receptacle such that energy is communicated to the at least one receptacle upon activation of the electronic temperature control unit to thereby vary a temperature of the universal adapter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A universal adapter for a cup holder included in a console of a vehicle, the universal adapter comprising:
a bezel including a body portion configured in correspondence with a recess defined by the console such that movement of the universal adapter is inhibited via contact between an outer wall of the bezel and an inner wall of the console defining the recess;
first and second receptacles extending from the bezel such that the body portion of the bezel extends radially outward from and circumferentially about the first and second receptacles, the first and second receptacles being configured for insertion into the cup holder and to receive a beverage container; and
an electronic temperature control unit supported by the bezel and positioned between the first and second receptacles so as not to interfere with installation of the universal adapter, the electronic temperature control unit being in electrical communication with the first and second receptacles such that energy is communicated to the first and second receptacles upon activation of the electronic temperature control unit to thereby vary a temperature of the universal adapter.

2. The universal adapter of claim 1 , wherein the bezel and the first and second receptacles are configured as discrete structures, the first and second receptacles being mechanically connected to the bezel.

3. The universal adapter of claim 1 , wherein the second receptacle is spaced from the first receptacle along a longitudinal axis of the bezel, the electronic temperature control unit extending from the bezel into a gap defined between the first and second receptacles.

4. The universal adapter of claim 3 , wherein the bezel defines a vertical height that varies along the longitudinal axis thereof.

5. The universal adapter of claim 3 , wherein the bezel defines a vertical height that is generally uniform along the longitudinal axis thereof.

6. The universal adapter of claim 1 , wherein the bezel includes a first bezel portion extending in generally orthogonal relation to vertical axes defined by the first and second receptacles and a second bezel portion extending about the first and second receptacles such that the second bezel portion is configured for positioning between the first and second receptacles and the cup holder.

7. The universal adapter of claim 6 , wherein the first bezel portion and the second bezel portion are configured as discrete structures, the first bezel portion being mechanically connected to the second bezel portion.

8. The universal adapter of claim 6 , wherein the first bezel portion and the second bezel portion are integrally formed.

9. A vehicle comprising:
a console including a cup holder and defining a recess extending about a periphery of the cup holder; and
a universal adapter configured for removable reception by the console and having a temperature control feature to effectuate temperature variation in the universal adapter, the universal adapter including:
a bezel including a body portion receivable by the recess, the bezel including a configuration substantially approximating that of the recess such that movement of the universal adapter is inhibited by an inner wall of the console defining the recess;
first and second receptacles extending from the bezel into the cup holder such that the body portion of the bezel extends radially outward from and circumferentially about the first and second receptacles; and
an electronic temperature control unit supported by the bezel and positioned between the first and second receptacles so as not to interfere with installation of the universal adapter, the electronic temperature control unit being configured to communicate energy to the first and second receptacles to thereby effectuate the temperature variation in the universal adapter.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first and second receptacles each include a mouth positioned adjacent to the bezel and a base, each of the first and second receptacles including a tapered configuration such that the mouth defines a first transverse cross-sectional dimension and the base defines a second transverse cross-sectional dimension less than the first transverse cross-sectional dimension.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the bezel and the first and second receptacles are configured as discrete structures, the first and second receptacles being mechanically connected to the bezel.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the second receptacle is spaced from the first receptacle along a longitudinal axis of the bezel.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the bezel defines a vertical height that varies along the longitudinal axis thereof.

14. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the bezel includes a first bezel portion extending in generally orthogonal relation to vertical axes defined by the first and second receptacles and a second bezel portion extending about the first and second receptacles such that the second bezel portion is configured for positioning between the first and second receptacles and the cup holder.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first bezel portion and the second bezel portion are configured as discrete structures, the first bezel portion being mechanically connected to the second bezel portion.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first bezel portion and the second bezel portion are integrally formed.

17. A universal adapter for a cup holder included in a console of a vehicle, the universal adapter comprising:
a bezel configured for removable insertion into the console;
first and second receptacles removably connected to the bezel and extending therefrom so as to facilitate insertion of the first and second receptacles into the cup holder, wherein each of the first and second receptacles includes a conductive member; and
an electronic temperature control unit positioned between the first and second receptacles so as not to interfere with installation of the universal adapter, the electronic temperature control unit being in electrical communication with the conductive members such that the electronic temperature control unit communicates energy to the first and second receptacles upon activation to thereby vary a temperature of the universal adapter.

18. The universal adapter of claim 17 , wherein the conductive members are embedded in sidewalls of the first and second receptacles.

19. The universal adapter of claim 17 , wherein the first and second receptacles include engagement portions configured for engagement with corresponding structure included on the console and extending into the cup holder to thereby inhibit relative movement between the universal adapter and the console.

20. The universal adapter of claim 17 , wherein the bezel includes a body portion extending radially outward from and circumferentially about the first and second receptacles.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Vite Cadena Manuel Alejandro

Classifications

• B60N3/104 Primary

  with refrigerating or warming systems · CPC title

• B60N3/107 Primary

  with different elements of fixed geometry · CPC title