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US 11,439,242 B1Granted
Systems and methods for providing a convertible cupholder
OwnerM. Brent Nortoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A convertible cupholder device that is configured to have a cupholder element of the device be selectively rotated and/or otherwise be moved between a variety of positions is described. As a result of its construction, when the convertible cupholder is coupled to a movable object (e.g., a pivoting member of a convertible bench), the cupholder element can be moved to and/or be retained in one or more desired positions (e.g., an upright position) when the movable object is pivoted and/or otherwise moved through a range of motion. Other implementations are described.
Claims20
A convertible cupholder comprising:
- a cupholder element that defines a receptacle that is configured to receive a cup;
- and
- a cupholder coupler that is rotatably coupled to a side of the cupholder element such that a pivot joint that couples the cupholder element to the cupholder coupler has a pivotal axis that runs at an intersecting angle with respect to, a longitudinal axis of the receptacle of the cupholder coupler, wherein the cupholder element is configured to rotate at least one of (i) clockwise and (ii) counterclockwise with respect to the side of the cupholder coupler by solely twisting the cupholder element with respect to the cupholder coupler, and wherein the cupholder coupler is configured to selectively couple to and decouple from a support object.
A convertible cupholder comprising:
- a cupholder element that defines a receptacle that is configured to hold a cup;
- and
- a cupholder coupler that is rotatably coupled to a side of the cupholder element and that is configured to selectively couple the cupholder element to a support object, wherein a pivot joint that couples the cupholder element to the cupholder coupler has a pivotal axis that extends towards, and that runs at an intersecting angle with respect to, a longitudinal axis of the receptacle of the cupholder coupler, wherein the cupholder element is configured to rotate at least one of:
- (i) clockwise and (ii) counterclockwise with respect to the side of the cupholder coupler by solely twisting the cupholder element with respect to the cupholder coupler, and wherein the convertible cupholder comprises a first contact surface that limits a clockwise rotation of the cupholder element with respect to the cupholder coupler and a second contact surface that limits a counterclockwise rotation of the cupholder element with respect to the cupholder coupler.
1 more element
A convertible cupholder comprising:
- a cupholder element, wherein the cupholder element comprises a base surface and a wall extending from the base surface and around a portion of a perimeter of the base surface to define a cup receptacle that is configured to receive a cup;
- and
- a cupholder coupler having a face that is pivotally coupled to the wall of the cupholder element,
- wherein a pivot joint that couples the cupholder element to the cupholder coupler has a pivotal axis that extends towards, and that runs at an intersecting angle with respect to, a longitudinal axis of the cup receptacle,
- wherein the cupholder element is configured to rotate at least one of:
- (i) clockwise and iii) counterclockwise with respect to the face of the cupholder coupler by solely twisting the cupholder element with respect to the cupholder coupler,
- wherein the convertible cupholder comprises a first barrier that limits a clockwise rotation of the cupholder element with respect to the cupholder coupler and a second barrier that limits a counterclockwise rotation of the cupholder element with respect to the cupholder coupler,
- wherein the cupholder coupler is configured to selectively couple to and to selectively decouple from an armrest,
- wherein the cupholder coupler comprises an arm that is configured to contact and extend across a first surface of the armrest,
- wherein the arm comprises a first end portion and a second end portion,
- wherein the first end portion of the arm comprises a first contact surface that is configured contact a second surface of the armrest, the second surface being opposed, in location, to the first surface of the armrest, and
- wherein the second end portion of the arm comprises a second contact surface that is configured to contact a third surface of the armrest, the third surface being opposed, in location, to the first surface of the armrest.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.