Back to results
US 12,679,265 B2Granted
Apparatus, system, and method for vibration damped cup-holder
AssigneesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorMatthew K. Killeen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grommet extends between a container receptacle and a vehicle panel. As the vehicle panel moves, the grommet is designed to flex (e.g., stretch and/or compress) to mitigate and/or eliminate movement of the container receptacle. Hence, the container receptacle is isolated from the vehicle panel via the grommet.
Claims19
An apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle panel;
- a container receptacle configured to receive a beverage container and defining a central axis;
- and
- a grommet extending from the container receptacle, the grommet is configured to extend between and to the container receptacle and the vehicle panel, the grommet includes a central portion extending between an inner portion secured to the container receptacle and an outer portion secured to the vehicle panel, the central portion extending at an angle of between twenty degrees and eighty degrees with respect to the central axis of the container receptacle and configured to at least one of compress or stretch to absorb a vibration in the vehicle panel, and the container receptacle is isolated from the vehicle panel via the grommet.
1 more element
A vehicle cup holder, comprising:
- a vehicle panel;
- an opening disposed in the vehicle panel;
- a container receptacle configured to receive a beverage container, the container receptacle extends through the opening in the vehicle panel and defines a central axis;
- and
- a grommet extending between and to the container receptacle and the vehicle panel, the grommet includes a central portion extending between an inner portion secured to the container receptacle and an outer portion secured to the vehicle panel, the central portion extending at an angle of between twenty degrees and eighty degrees with respect to the central axis of the container receptacle and configured to at least one of compress or stretch to absorb a vibration in the vehicle panel, and the container receptacle is isolated from the vehicle panel via the grommet.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- positioning a container receptacle to extend through an opening in a vehicle panel, the container receptacle is configured to receive a beverage container and defines a central axis;
- positioning a grommet to extend between and to the container receptacle and the vehicle panel, the grommet includes a central portion extending between an inner portion secured to the container receptacle and an outer portion secured to the vehicle panel, the central portion extending at an angle of between twenty degrees and eighty degrees with respect to the central axis of the container receptacle;
- isolating the container receptacle from the vehicle panel via the grommet;
- and
- absorbing a vibration of the vehicle panel with the grommet, wherein the grommet is configured to at least one of compress or stretch to absorb the vibration.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.