# US 2014/0197657 A1 · Multiple container holder assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197657 A1 - Document ID: US20140197657A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/742,917 - Filed: 2013-01-16 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-16 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Francis Raymond Gillis; Paul Schmidt; Robert D. Bedard; Jolanta Coffey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197657A1 ## CPC - B60R 7/04: in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} - B60N 3/101: {fixed} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A multiple container holder assembly is a convertible assembly having a base portion and an upper panel assembly. The base portion includes one or more container wells each adapted to support a container. The upper panel includes one or more retaining apertures each adapted to support a container. The base portion is disposed in a first portion of a bin housing and the upper panel assembly is slidably supported on the bin housing between first and second positions. In the first position the retaining apertures of the upper panel are configured to align with the container wells of the base portion. In the second position the retaining apertures of the upper panel are configured to be disposed over a second portion of the housing, such that when the upper panel is in the second position, the container wells and the retaining apertures are accessible for supporting a container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 A container holder assembly, comprising: a housing having first and second portions; one or more container wells disposed in the first portion of the housing; a panel slidably engaged with the housing having one or more retaining apertures configured to align with the one or more container wells when the panel is in a first position, wherein the panel is disposed over the second portion of the housing in a second position; one or more track members disposed in the housing adapted to slidably support the panel between the first position and the second position; and front and rear detent pockets disposed on opposite ends of the one or more track members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The container holder assembly of claim 3, including: a first set of engagement tabs and a second set of engagement tabs disposed on the panel and adapted to be slidably received in the one or more track members disposed in the housing and wherein the first set of engagement tabs are disposed in a car-forward position on the panel relative to the second set of engagement tabs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The container holder assembly of claim 4, wherein: each engagement tab includes a resilient finger portion having a protruding engagement member disposed thereon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The container holder assembly of claim 5, wherein: the engagement members of the first set of engagement tabs are adapted to engage the front detent pockets when the panel is in the second position, and further wherein the engagement members of the second set of engagement tabs are adapted to engage the rear detent pockets when the panel is in the first position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The container holder assembly of claim 6, including: ramp members disposed adjacent to the front and rear detent pockets, wherein the ramp members are configured to engage the protruding engagement members and deform the resilient finger portion of the engagement tabs from an at rest position as the panel slides over the ramp members towards one of the first and second positions; and further wherein the resilient finger portions are adapted to return to the at rest position when the panel is positioned in one of the first and second positions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The container holder assembly of claim 3, wherein: the one or more container wells and the one or more retaining apertures are adapted to cooperate to support one or more containers when the panel is in the first position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The container holder assembly of claim 8, wherein: the second portion of the housing comprises an upwardly opening storage compartment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The container holder assembly of claim 9, wherein: the one or more retaining apertures are adapted to retain one or more containers in the upwardly opening storage compartment when the panel is in the second position. ### Claim 11 A multiple container holder assembly, comprising: a housing having first and second portions; first and second container wells disposed in the first portion; and a panel assembly slidably supported on the housing between first and second positions and having first and second retaining apertures, the first and second retaining apertures disposed over the first and second container wells when the panel assembly is in the first position to support first and second beverage containers therein. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The multiple container holder assembly of claim 11, wherein: the second portion of the housing comprises an upwardly opening storage compartment, and further wherein the first and second retaining apertures are adapted to retain third and fourth beverage containers in the upwardly opening storage compartment when the panel assembly is disposed over the upwardly opening storage compartment in the second position. ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 (canceled) ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 A multiple container holder assembly, comprising: a housing having first and second portions; track members disposed along the first and second portions of the housing; one or more container wells disposed in the first portion; and a panel assembly having one or more retaining apertures, the panel assembly slidably supported on the track members between a first position, wherein the retaining apertures align with the container wells, and a second position, wherein the retaining apertures are disposed over the second portion of the housing; and front and rear detent pockets disposed on opposite ends of the track members. ### Claim 17 (canceled) ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The multiple container holder assembly of claim 16, wherein: the second portion of the housing comprises an upwardly opening storage compartment having a bottom surface, and further wherein the one or more retaining apertures are adapted to retain one or more containers in the upwardly opening storage compartment when the panel assembly is disposed over the upwardly opening storage compartment in the second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The multiple container holder assembly of claim 18, wherein: the bottom surface of the upwardly opening storage compartment is adapted to support one or more containers as retained by the one or more retaining apertures when the panel assembly is in the second position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The multiple container holder assembly of claim 16, wherein: the one or more container wells and the one or more retaining apertures are adapted to cooperate to support one or more containers when the panel assembly is in the first position.