CUP HOLDER

• US 20180215301A1
• Filed: 02/02/2017
• Published: 08/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nifco America Corporation (Nifco Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nifco America Corporation (Nifco Incorporated)
• Inventors: SMITHSON, Randy, HIROSE, Akihiko
• Granted Patent: US 10,596,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0216 for one glass or cup
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0225 attachable to a plate, table, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0241 for bottles; Decanters
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/105 for receptables of different size or shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/106 with adjustable clamping mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/10 Devices to locate articles in containers for protecting articles from mechanical damage B65D81/02

Abstract

A cup holder including a case for receiving a cup, having an opening and a bottom opposite to the opening; a rotational arm including a first arm member rotatably connected to the case, and a second arm member rotatably connected to the first arm member and having a retaining member for holding the cup; and a platform slidably arranged in the case to move between a first position in which the platform is positioned at the opening of the case, and a second position in which the platform is positioned at the bottom of the case, the platform an abutting portion extending downwardly therefrom to abut against the first arm member. When the platform moves from the first position to the second position, the abutting portion abuts against the first arm member to rotate the rotational arm toward the case and the retaining member is disposed inside the case.

Claims

1. A cup holder for holding a cup, comprising:

a case for receiving the cup, having an opening and a bottom opposite to the opening;

a rotational arm rotatably connected to the case, and including

a first arm member rotatably connected to the case, and

a second arm member rotatably connected to the first arm member, and having a retaining member protruding toward the case for retaining the cup;

a platform slidably arranged in the case to move between a first position in which the platform is positioned at the opening of the case, and a second position in which the platform is positioned at the bottom of the case, the platform having an abutting portion extending downwardly therefrom to abut against the first arm member; and

a latch unit to latch the platform and the bottom of the case when the platform is in the second position,

wherein when the platform moves from the first position to the second position, the abutting portion abuts against the first arm member to rotate the rotational arm toward the case and the retaining member is disposed inside the case.

2. A cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the first arm member includes

a body portion aligned to the second arm member, and having one end rotatably connected to the second arm member and another end rotatably connected to an outer surface of the case, and

a contacting portion extending from the another end of the body portion to the inside of the case to abut against the abutting portion of the platform.

3. A cup holder according to claim 2, wherein the rotational arm further comprises a first urging portion disposed between the first arm member and the case for applying an urging force to the rotational arm toward outside of the case, and a second urging portion disposed between the first arm member and the second arm member for applying an urging force to the second arm member toward the inside of the case, and

the urging force of the second urging portion is greater than that of the first urging portion.

4. A cup holder according to claim 3, further comprising:

an urging member arranged between the platform and the case to urge the platform toward the opening of the case,

wherein when the platform is in the first position, the retaining member of the second arm member is outside of the case and the contacting portion of the first arm member is inside the case,

when the platform moves from the first position to the second position, the platform is moved against an urging force of the urging member and the abutting portion of the platform abuts against the contacting portion of the first arm member to rotate the rotational arm toward the case,

when the platform is in the second position, the platform is latched to the bottom of the case through the latch unit and the retaining member of the second arm member protrudes inside the case for retaining the cup, and

when the platform moves from the second position to the first position, the platform is unlatched from the bottom of the case and the urging member urges the platform to move toward the opening of the case and rotate the rotational arm away from the case.

5. A cup holder according to claim 4, wherein the case further comprises

a first slot arranged between the opening of the case and the bottom of the case, to allow the retaining member of the second arm member to enter inside the case, and

a second slot arranged between the first slot and the bottom of the case and extending into the bottom, to allow the contacting portion of the first arm member to enter inside the case,

wherein when the platform is in the first position, the contacting portion of the first arm member is disposed inside the case through the second slot to abut against the abutting portion of the platform, and when the platform is in the second position, the retaining member of the second arm member protrudes inside the case through the first slot for retaining the cup.

6. A cup holder according to claim 5, wherein the case further comprises a guide portion arranged on the outer surface of the case and having a plurality of teeth extending from the opening of the case to the bottom of the case, and

the platform further comprises a gear arranged on an outer surface of the platform to engage the plurality of teeth of the guide portion.

7. A cup holder according to claim 6, wherein the retaining member of the second arm member has a semi-circular shape protruding toward the case.