Drink container holder

• US 4,826,058 A
• Filed: 11/04/1987
• Issued: 05/02/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Inventors: Nakayama, Hiromichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US07/116,296
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 224/148, 224/275, 224/281, 224/282, 224/42.42, 224/42.44, 224/42.45 R, 312/274, 312/329, 248/311.2, 248/315, 296/37.12, 296/37.15, 296/37.16
• US Class Current: 224/554
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/926 Vehicle attached carrier for beverage container or bottle

Abstract

A drink container holder comprises a storage case built within the body of an automobile, a base framework having an annularly perforated portion able to enter and leave the storage case, an annular holding framework disposed within the perforated portion of the base framework, an intermediate swingable body interposed between the base framework and the holding framework and pivotably attached to the base framework and the holding framework respectively, and a cup holding frame pivotably attached to the holding framework in a suspended fashion.

Claims

1. A drink container holder, comprising:

a storage case defining an opening, and having a closure member movably mounted thereon between open and closed positions for opening and closing said opening;

a base framework, having an annular portion defined therein with an aperture defined therethrough, mounted upon said closure member of said storage case;

an annular holding framework disposed within said annular aperture portion of said base framework;

an intermediate pivotable body, interposed between said base framework and said holding framework including first and second pairs of pivotably attaching means, the first pair of said pivotably attaching means being provided at diametrically opposed positions upon a first axis, and said second pair of pivotably attaching means being provided at diametrically opposed positions upon a second axis crossing said first axis at a central portion thereof and at right angles thereto, said first and second pairs of pivotably attaching means being pivotably attached to said base framework and said holding framework, respectively; and

a cup holding frame having a pair of pivotably attaching means at diametrically opposed end portions thereof and pivotably attached to said holding framework in a suspended fashion by pivotably attaching said pivotably attaching means thereto, said cup holding frame, when stowed within said storage case as a result of the closing action of said closure member, being pivoted about said pivotably attaching means so as to be stowed within said storage case.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein:

said closure member is a door which is openable and closable, and pivotably supported within said opening portion of said storage case, and said base framework is integrally formed with an interior surface of said door.

3. The holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said closure member is a drawer slidably mounted within said storage case.

4. The holder as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

beam means formed upon edge portions of said drawer; and

rail means fixedly disposed within said storage case upon which said beam means of said drawer slide.

5. The holder as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

projection means fixedly mounted upon said closure member; and

catch means fixedly mounted upon said storage case for operatively cooperating with said projection means of said closure member so as to retain said closure member in a closed position when said closure member is moved to said closed position.

6. The holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said cup holding frame comprises a substantially U-shaped bail.

7. The holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said annular holding framework and said intermediate pivotable body comprise a pair of gimbal rings.

8. A drink container holder, comprising:

a storage case defining an opening within one sidewall thereof;

a closure member movably mounted upon said storage case between first and second positions respectively opening and closing said opening defined within said sidewall of said storage case;

an annular frame member, having aperture means defined therein and extending therethrough, fixedly mounted upon an interior surface of said closure member;

a first ring member;

means pivotably mounting said first ring member interiorly within said annular frame member and upon said annular frame member about a first pivot axis;

a second ring member;

means pivotably mounting said second ring member interiorly within said first ring member and upon said first ring member about a second pivot axis which crosses said first pivot axis at a central portion thereof and at right angles thereto; and

cup holding means pivotably mounted upon said second ring member between a first position at which said cup holding means is disposed in an operative suspended state for supporting said drink container when said closure member is moved to said open position, and a second position at which said cup holding means is disposed in an inoperative collapsed state for storage within said storage case when said closure member is moved to said closed position.

9. A drink container holder as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said closure member is a door.

10. A drink container holder as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said closure member is a drawer.

11. A drink container holder, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

rail means fixedly disposed within said storage case; and

beam means formed upon edge portions of said drawer for slidable movement along said rail means for facilitating said movement of said closure member between said open and closed positions.

12. A drink container holder, as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

projection means fixedly mounted upon said closure member; and

catch means fixedly mounted upon said storage case for operatively cooperating with said projection means of said closure member for retaining said closure member in a closed position when said closure member is moved to said closed position.

13. A drink container holder as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said cup holding means comprises a substantially U-shaped bail.

14. A drink container holder as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said first and second ring members comprise a pair of gimbal rings.

15. A drink container holder as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said annular frame member comprises an annular ring member.

16. A drink container holder as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said annular frame member comprises a substantially flat plate having a substantially rectangular configuration with said aperture means defined within a substantially central portion thereof.

17. A drink container holder as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said cup holding means is pivotably mounted upon said second ring member about an axis which is substantially parallel to said first axis about which said first ring member is pivotably mounted within said annular frame member.