Self-adjusting cup holder assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9963059-B2
Application number	US-201514971714-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2015
Priority date	Dec 16, 2015
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A self-adjusting cup holder assembly includes a housing having an open cavity and a flexible well held in that cavity. The flexible well is displaceable between a rest position and cup holding position whereby the cup is squeezed by the flexible well and positively maintained in the well by a positive gripping force.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A self-adjusting cup holder assembly, comprising:
a housing including an open cavity having a circular opening and a channel extending concentrically around said circular opening; and
a flexible well held in said cavity, said flexible well being displaceable between a rest position and a cup holding position, wherein said flexible well includes an integral spring having a first end, a second end and a u-shaped intermediate section connecting the first end to the second end wherein at least the first or second end of said integral spring is held in said channel.

2. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein said flexible well includes a closed end.

3. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first end of said integral spring is held in said channel at a first point and the second end of said integral spring is held in said channel at a second point.

4. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 3 , wherein said intermediate section extends along a bottom of said flexible well.

5. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 4 , wherein said integral spring includes a first hinge point between said first end and said intermediate section and a second hinge point between point said intermediate section and said second end.

6. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 5 , wherein said first hinge point is opposed to said second hinge point and a cup is positively squeezed between said first hinge point and said second hinge point when pressed down into said well.

7. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 6 , wherein said integral spring includes a first arcuate section between said first end and said first hinge point.

8. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 7 , wherein said integral spring includes a second arcuate section between said second end and said second hinge point.

9. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 8 , further including a gap between said bottom of said flexible well and a bottom wall of said open cavity.

10. A self-adjusting cup holder assembly, comprising:
a housing including an open cavity; and
a flexible well held in said cavity, said flexible well being displaceable between a rest position and a cup holding position, wherein said flexible well includes an integral spring having a first end, a second end and a u-shaped intermediate section connecting the first end to the second end, wherein a portion of said intermediate section extends along a bottom of said flexible well, and wherein said integral spring includes a first hinge point between said first end and said intermediate section and a second hinge point between said intermediate section and said second end.

11. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 10 , wherein said first hinge point is opposed to said second hinge point and a cup is positively squeezed between said first hinge point and said second hinge point when pressed down into said well.

12. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 11 , wherein said integral spring includes a first arcuate section between said first end and said first hinge point.

13. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 12 , wherein said integral spring includes a second arcuate section between said second end and said second hinge point.

14. The self-adjusting cup holder assembly of claim 13 , further including a gap between said bottom of said flexible well and a bottom wall of said open cavity.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Cooper Geoffrey John
• Sadri Hossein Jacob

Classifications

• B60N3/108 Primary

  with resilient holding elements · CPC title

• B60N3/106

  with adjustable clamping mechanisms · CPC title

• A47G23/02

  Glass or bottle holders {(serving trays with openings for carrying glasses or bottles A47G23/0641; bottle racks A47B73/00; for feeding-bottles A61J9/06; in vehicles B60N3/10)} · CPC title

• A47G19/22

  Drinking vessels or saucers used for table service (glass or drinking-vessel underlays A47G23/03 {; cups as travelling or camp articles A45F3/16; collapsible cups A45F3/20; cups made of plastics B65D1/265, made of paper B65D3/06; measuring cups G01F9/00}) · CPC title

• B60R7/00 Primary

  Stowing or holding appliances inside vehicle primarily intended for personal property smaller than suit-cases, e.g. travelling articles, or maps (for radio sets, television sets, telephones or the like, mounting of cameras operative during drive, tools, or spare parts B60R11/00; for receptacles for refuse, food, beverages, cigarettes B60N) · CPC title