US 5,489,055 AGranted

Cup holder for automobile

OwnerDror Levyinventor

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Abstract

A cup holder for use in various locations within the interior of a automobile includes a planar member, and a gimbal mechanism attached to the planar member which includes a C-shaped support member, and a cup retaining member. The planar member may be inserted and secured in various compartments, including the ashtray and glove compartment. The C-shaped member is pivotally mounted to the planar member, and the cup retaining member is pivotally mounted between the arms of the C-shaped member. Once mounted in the automobile, a container may be secured in the up right position within the automobile. An alternative embodiment includes a window attaching portion which allows the device to mounted from an automobile passenger window. Another alternative embodiment includes a cylindrical support base which allows the cup holder to be mounted in a cigarette lighter socket. Another embodiment includes a cup with pins attached for pivotally mounting the cup on the C-shaped member.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A holder for holding a beverage container in a generally upright position when located within an automobile, said holder comprising:

an elongated planar member, said elongated planar member having a planar member first end, a planar member second end, a top surface, a bottom surface, a top stop ridge extending from said top surface between said planar member first end and said planar member second end, a bottom stop ridge extending from said bottom surface between said planar member first end and said planar member second end, a plurality of top gripping ridges extending from said top surface between said planar member first end and said planar member second end, and a plurality of bottom gripping ridges extending from said bottom surface between said planar member first end and said planar member second end;
a support arm member, said support arm member including a middle section, a first arm extending from a first end of said middle section to terminate in a first arm end, and a second arm extending from a second end of said middle section to terminate in a second arm end;
means for rotatably connecting said middle section of said support arm member to said planar member first end, whereby said middle section has a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said elongated planar member;
cup retaining means for supporting the beverage container;
and
means for pivotally mounting said cup retaining means between said first arm end and said second arm end.

3 more elements

A holder for holding a beverage container in a generally upright position when located within an automobile, said holder comprising:

an elongated planar member, said elongated planar member having a planar member first end, a planar member second end, a top surface, a bottom surface, a top stop ridge extending from said top surface between said planar member first end and said planar member second end, a bottom stop ridge extending from said bottom surface between said planar member first end and said planar member second end, a plurality of top gripping ridges extending from said top surface between said planar member first end and said planar member second end, and a plurality of bottom gripping ridges extending from said bottom surface between said planar member first end and said planar member second end, said elongated planar member having a rectangular cross-section, and said top stop ridge, said bottom stop ridge, said plurality of top gripping ridges, and said plurality of bottom gripping ridges all having triangular cross-sections;
a resilient C-shaped support member having a middle section, a first arm extending from a first end of said middle section to terminate in a first arm end, and a second arm extending from a second end of said middle section to terminate in a second arm end, said middle section rotatably connected to said planar member first end, said middle section having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said elongated planar member;
cup retaining ring for supporting the beverage container;
and
means for pivotally mounting said cup retaining ring between said first arm end and said second arm end, said means including a first aperture in said first arm end, a second aperture in said second arm end, a first pin extending radially from said cup retaining ring and mounted in said first aperture, a second pin opposite said first pin extending radially from said cup retaining ring and mounted in said second aperture, whereby said cup retaining ring may rotate along a common axis of said first pin, said second pin, said first aperture, and said second aperture.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.