Self-adjustable cup holders
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorsWalter P. Guenther, Joshua Williams, Edward J. Zotter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-adjusting cup holder is provided. The cup holder includes a receiving area, compensating levers, and biasing members for biasing the compensating levers to a first position. The receiving area is configured to receive a portion of a drinking vessel. The compensating levers are disposed in slots defined in the wall of the receiving area. A first end of the compensating levers is pivotally connected to a portion of the wall such that a first edge of the levers is movable between the first position and a second position. The first edge is within the receiving area when the levers are in the first position. The first edge is farther from the sidewall in the first position than in the second position.
Claims26
A self-adjusting cup holder, comprising:
- a receiving area configured to receive a portion of a drinking vessel;
- a plurality of slots defined in a wall of said receiving area;
- one or more compensating levers being disposed in said slots, each of said compensating levers having a first end and a first edge, said first end being pivotally connected to a first portion of said wall such that said first edge is movable between a first position and a second position, said first edge being within said receiving area when in said first position, and said first edge being farther from said wall in said first position than in said second position;
- and
- means for biasing said compensating levers to said first position.
A self-adjusting drinking vessel holder for retaining a drinking vessel in a vehicle having a vehicle interior and a dashboard, the self-adjusting drinking vessel holder comprising:
- a receiving area adapted to be secured to the vehicle interior, said receiving area being configured to receive a portion of the drinking vessel;
- a plurality of slots defined in a wall of said receiving area;
- a compensating lever being disposed in each of said plurality of slots, each said compensating lever having a first end and a first edge, said first end being pivotally connected to said wall such that said first edge is movable between a first position and a second position, said first edge being within said receiving area when in said first position, and said first edge being farther from said wall in said first position than in said second position;
- and
- a biasing member for biasing said compensating levers to said first position.
A self-adjusting drinking vessel holder for retaining a drinking vessel, comprising:
- a receiving area configured to receive a portion of the drinking vessel;
- a plurality of slots defined in a wall of said receiving area;
- a compensating lever being disposed in each of said slots, each said compensating lever having a first end and a first edge, said first end being pivotally connected to said wall such that said first edge is movable between a first position and a second position, said first edge being within said receiving area when in said first position, and said first edge being farther from said wall in said first position than in said second position;
- and
- a biasing member for biasing said compensating levers towards said first position.
A method of retaining a drinking vessel in a self-adjusting drinking vessel holder, comprising:
- inserting a portion of the drinking vessel into a receiving area defined by at least one wall;
- and
- providing a retaining force to the drinking vessel when said portion is inserted into said receiving area, said retaining force being provided by a plurality of compensating levers pivotally secured to said at least one wall wherein each compensating lever is biased into said receiving area by a biasing member and each compensating lever passes through an opening in said at least one wall wherein the presence of said portion of the drinking vessel in said receiving area causes a portion of said compensating levers to move in said opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.