US 2004/0200941 A1Published application

Selectively deployable cupholder

AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation

InventorsRobert P. Dennis, Martin A. Hogan, Yvonne F. Egbert

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Abstract

A selectively deployable cupholder that incorporates the best aspects of the static and active component cupholder designs, composed of stationary cylindrical component and a movable cylindrical component that is telescopically nested within the stationary cylindrical component. When the movable cylindrical component is in an undeployed state, whereat it is fully nested with respect to the stationary cylindrical component, a low vertical profile is provided, suitable for drawer applications. When the movable cylindrical component is in a deployed state, whereat it is fully telescopically raised relative to the stationary cylindrical component, the cupholder receives beverage containers with a stable support as is required for the automotive driving environment.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A selectively deployable cupholder, comprising:

a stationary cylindrical component having a stationary cylindrical wall defining an inner wall surface, a plurality of tracks being formed in said inner wall surface, a floor being connected to said stationary cylindrical wall at said lower end thereof;
and
a movable cylindrical component having a movable cylindrical wall defining an outer wall surface, said movable cylindrical component being telescopically nested with respect to said stationary cylindrical component, a plurality of bosses emanating from said outer wall surface, one boss for each track, respectively;
wherein each said boss is received in a respective said track such that said plurality of tracks guide telescopic movement of the movable cylindrical component with respect to the stationary cylindrical component between an undeployed state and a deployed state;
and
wherein said stationary cylindrical wall has an upper end and an opposite lower end;
wherein said cupholder further comprises:
an upper detent formed in each said track adjacent said upper end, respectively;
and
a lower detent formed in each said track adjacent said lower end, respectively;
wherein each said upper detent receives a respective said boss to thereby define said deployed state, and wherein each said lower detent receives a respective said boss to thereby define said undeployed state;
wherein each said track is helically oriented wherein each said track extends between substantially said upper end and said lower end of said stationary cylindrical wall,
wherein said movable cylindrical wall has a lower end, wherein said plurality of bosses are located adjacent said lower end of said movable cylindrical wall;
and
wherein each said upper detent comprises a first concavity of a respective said track carried on a respective upper resilient arm formed in said stationary cylindrical wall;
and wherein each said lower detent comprises a second concavity of a respective said track carried on a respective lower resilient arm formed in said floor.

13 more elements

A selectively deployable cupholder and trim component, comprising:

a stationary cylindrical component having a stationary cylindrical wall defining an inner wall surface, a plurality of tracks being formed in said inner wall surface, a floor being connected to said stationary cylindrical wall at said lower end thereof;
a movable cylindrical component having a movable cylindrical wall defining an outer wall surface, said movable cylindrical component being telescopically nested with respect to said stationary cylindrical component, a plurality of bosses emanating from said outer wall surface, one boss for each track, respectively;
and
a trim component connected to said stationary cylindrical wall;
wherein each said boss is received in a respective said track such that said plurality of tracks guide telescopic movement of the movable cylindrical component with respect to the stationary cylindrical component between an undeployed state and a deployed state;
and
wherein said stationary cylindrical wall has an upper end and an opposite lower end;
wherein said cupholder further comprises:
an upper detent formed in each said track adjacent said upper end, respectively;
and
a lower detent formed in each said track adjacent said lower end, respectively;
wherein each said upper detent receives a respective said boss to thereby define said deployed state, and wherein each said lower detent receives a respective said boss to thereby define said undeployed state;
wherein each said track is helically oriented, wherein each said track extends between substantially said upper end and said lower end of said stationary cylindrical wall;
wherein said movable cylindrical wall has a lower end, wherein said plurality of bosses are located adjacent said lower end of said movable cylindrical wall;
and
wherein each said upper detent comprises a first concavity of a respective said track carried on a respective upper resilient arm formed in said stationary cylindrical wall;
and wherein each said lower detent comprises a second concavity of a respective said track carried on a respective lower resilient arm formed in said floor.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.