CUP HOLDER FOR AUTOMOBILES

• US 3,707,272 A
• Filed: 05/19/1970
• Issued: 12/26/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lester M. Rasmussen
• Original Assignee: Lester M. Rasmussen
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Lester M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Application Number:
  US05/038,746
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 248/309,311,314,315,215,210,211,216 211/71,74,75,76,88,106 108/46 224/42.45
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/103 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/108 with resilient holding elements

Abstract

A cup holder is provided with clip and brace means for detachably securing same to the inside of an automobile door to hold any food dispensed in cups. Auxiliary clips detachably secured to the holder can be used to support bags holding additional food or refuse as well as holding napkins and the like.

Claims

1. A carrier for a cup or the like adapted to be detachably mounted on an automobile door, said carrier comprising a retaining ring disposed in use substantially horizontally for receiving coaxially therethrough an associated cup in an upstanding condition, mounting means coupled to said ring and extending outwardly therefrom for detachably mounting said ring on the associated door, an annular liner substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section and adapted to be removably received on said retaining ring for covering the upper circumferential edge thereof to provide a padding therefor, a discrete hanger coupled to said ring and extending substantially vertically downwardly therefrom, and an arcuate base member connected to said hanger adjacent to the lower end thereof and having a free distal end extending inwardly beneath said ring, said base member being curved upwardly from said hanger to form an arch disposed for supporting engagement with the bottom of an associated cup disposed within said retaining ring to provide the sole bottom support therefor, said base member being formed of flexible and resilient material and being shiftable among a plurality of different configurations for accommodating associated cups of various sizes, whereby said base member and said ring cooperate to support the associated cup in an upstanding condition.

2. A carrier for a cup or the like adapted to be detachably mounted on an automobile door having a door panel and a window disposed on one side of the panel and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom, said carrier comprising a receptacle disposed in use for receiving and supporting therein an associated cup in an upstanding condition, a pair of mounting arms each having an inner end coupled to said receptacle and an outer end disposed away from said receptacle, said arms being disposed in use substantially horizontally with the inner ends thereof being disposed closely adjacent to each other and with the outer ends thereof being resiliently biased away from each other, a pair of prongs respectively connected to said arms adjacent to the outer ends thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, said carrier having a mounted configuration with said arms overlying the associated door panel and with said prongs inserted downwardly between the associated window and the one side of the associated door panel and with said receptacle disposed on the opposite side of the associated door panel, whereby said arms and said prongs cooperate for engagement with the associated window and door panel for mounting said receptacle thereon to support the associated cup.

3. The carrier set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said mounting arms is constructed of spring steel.

4. The carrier set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said prongs is formed of a flexible and resilient material, said prongs being formed so as to simultaneously engage both the associated window and the associated door panel when said carrier is disposed in the mounted figuration thereof.

5. A carrier for a Cup or the like adapted to be detachably mounted on an automobile door having a door panel and a window disposed on one side of the panel and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom, said carrier comprising a receptacle disposed in use for receiving and supporting therein an associated cup in an upstanding condition, a pair of mounting arms disposed in use substantially horizontally and each having an inner end coupled to said receptacle and a free distal end disposed away from said receptacle, two prongs respectively connected to said arms adjacent to the distal ends thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, and a brace member coupled to said arms intermediate the ends thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and being movable longitudinally with respect thereto for varying the spacing between said brace member and said prongs, said carrier having a mounted configuration with said arms overlying the associated door panel and with said prongs inserted downwardly between the window and the one side of the associated door panel and with said receptacle disposed on the opposite side of the associated door panel, said brace member being movable into engagement with the opposite side of the associated door panel for cooperation with said prongs to accommodate the associated door panel therebetween, whereby said carrier may be firmly mounted on automobile doors having panels of varying thickness by appropriate adjustment of the position of said movable brace member.

6. The carrier set forth in claim 5 wherein said receptacle is constructed of a steel band.

7. The carrier set forth in claim 5 wherein said brace is formed of a continuous strip of steel looped over and engaging said mounting arms for urging said arms together adjacent to the area of engagement therewith, the free ends of said strip extending downwardly from said mounting arms.

8. A carrier for a cup or the like adapted to be detachably mounted on an automobile door having a door panel and a window disposed on one side of the panel and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom, said carrier comprising a retaining ring disposed in use substantially horizontally for receiving coaxially therethrough an associated cup in an upstanding condition, a pair of mounting arms each having an inner end coupled to said ring and an outer end disposed away from said ring, said arms being disposed in use substantially horizontally with the inner ends thereof being disposed closely adjacent to each other and with the outer ends thereof being resiliently biased away from each other, a pair of prongs respectively connected to said arms adjacent to the outer ends thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, a brace member coupled to said arms intermediate the ends thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and being movable longitudinally with respect thereto for varying the space between said brace member and said prongs, a discrete hanger coupled to said ring and extending substantially vertically downwardly therefrom, and an arcuate base member connected to said hanger adjacent to the lower end thereof and having a free distal end extending inwardly beneath said ring, said base member being curved upwardly from said hanger to form an arch disposed for supporting engagement with the bottom of an associated cup disposed within said retaining ring, said carrier having a mounted configuration with said arms overlying the associated door panel and with said prongs inserted downwardly between the associated window and the one side of the associated door panel and with said ring disposed on the opposite side of the associated door panel, said brace member being movable into engagement with the opposite side of the associated door panel for cooperation with such prongs to accommodate the associated door panel therebetween, whereby said carrier may be firmly mounted on automobile doors having panels of varying thickness by proper adjustment of the position of said movable brace member with said brace member and said ring cooperatinG to support the associated cup in an upstanding condition.