Generic beverage container holder

• US 4,892,281 A
• Filed: 12/29/1987
• Issued: 01/09/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anderson Acquisition, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chivas Products Limited (Chivas Industries LLC)
• Inventors: DiFilippo, Michael, Grabowski, David N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOTKOWSKI, KAREN
• Application Number:
  US07/138,988
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 248/311.2, 248/312.1, 248/310, 248/312, 248/313, 248/316.1, 248/316.4, 248/240.1, 248/316.2, 248/316.6, 211/76, 211/74, 211/77, 297/194, 297/188, 108/25, 108/26, 108/44, 108/45
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position

Abstract

A generic beverage container holder for use within a vehicle includes a housing mountable beneath the dashboard and a frame slidably mounted to the housing for movement between retracted and operational positions. An opening is defined within the frame to accommodate beverage containers such as cans and cups. A U-shaped support is pivotally mounted to and beneath the frame and is spring biased towards a vertical attitude beneath the container opening when the frame is extended. When the frame is retracted the support automatically folds against the frame for storage. The frame consists of two telescoping elements moving between extended and collapsed conditions as the frame moves between the operational and retracted positions. The frame is about as long as the housing is deep when retracted, but is substantially longer when operational. This results in a reduced-depth housing usable where space is limited.

Claims

1. A generic container holder, usable with containers over a range of lateral sizes, for mounting to a surface comprising:

a housing mountable to said surface;

a frame mounted to said housing for movement between a retracted position, wherein said frame is within said housing, and an operational position, wherein said frame extends from said housing, said frame having a portion defining a central open area for receiving said containers;

said frame including first and second telescoping members for moving between an extended condition and a collapsed condition as said frame moves between said retracted and operational positions, each of said first and second telescoping members having a peripheral edge;

said central opening being formed by the peripheral edges of said first and second telescoping members.

2. The generic container holder as defined by claim 1 wherein said telescoping members are relatively independently slidable.

3. The generic container holder as defined by claim 1 wherein the range of lateral sizes includes a largest lateral size and wherein said central open area is sized for receipt of the container having the largest lateral size over the range of lateral sizes when said first and second telescoping members are fully extended.

4. The generic container holder as defined by claim 1 wherein said first and second telescoping members include means for defining a variably dimensioned central opening.

5. The generic container holder as defined by claim 1 further comprising a bottom support mounted to and depending from said frame, a part of said bottom support positioned centrally beneath said central open area when said frame is in the operational position, such that said containers placed in said central open area are supported vertically by said bottom support.

6. The generic container holder as defined by claim 1 wherein said frame defines at least two central open areas adapted to simultaneously receive a plurality of containers.

7. The generic container holder as defined by claim 6 wherein each of said central open areas is adapted to receive one container.

8. The generic container holder as defined by claim 1 further comprising guides for said movement between said frame and said housing.

9. The generic container holder as defined by claim 1 wherein said first telescoping member is slidably mounted to said housing and wherein said first telescoping member acts as a cantilever to support said second telescoping member when said frame is in said operational position.

10. The generic contain holder of claim 9 wherein said second telescoping member is partially external of the housing when the frame is in the operational position.

17. The generic container holder as defined by claim 1 wherein said central open area is non-circular when said frame is in said collapsed condition.

11. A generic container holder usable with containers over a range of lateral sizes for mounting to a surface comprising:

a housing having a lengthwise dimension and mountable to said surface;

a frame having a length, said frame slidably mounted to said housing for movement between a retracted position, wherein a portion of said frame is within said housing, and an operational position, wherein said portion of said frame is removed from said housing, said frame having a central open area for receiving said containers;

said frame including a plurality of elements relatively slidable in a lengthwise direction, said central open area being formed by said plurality of elements, said elements moving between extended and collapsed conditions as said frame moves from said operational to said retracted positions such that said lengthwise dimension of said housing is substantially shorter than the length of said frame when said elements are in said extended condition.

12. The generic container holder as defined by claim 11 wherein said plurality of elements each include a peripheral edge and wherein said central open area is formed by the peripheral edges of said plurality of elements.

13. A generic container holder usable with containers over a range of lateral sizes, including a largest lateral size, for mounting to a surface comprising:

a housing mountable to said surface;

a frame slidably mounted to said housing for movement between a retracted position, wherein said frame is within said housing, and an operational position, wherein said frame is at least partially extended from said housing;

said frame including first and second relatively slidable telescoping elements moving between extended and collapsed conditions as said frame moves between said operational and retracted positions.

said frame having a central open area for receiving said container, said central open area sized for receipt of said container of the largest size when said first and second relatively slidable telescoping elements are fully extended, said central open area formed by said first and second relatively slidable telescoping elements;

said first relatively slidable telescoping element slidably mounted to said housing;

said second relatively slidable telescoping element slidably mounted to said first relatively slidable telescoping element such that said second relatively slidable telescoping element is supported by said first relatively slidable telescoping element when said first and second relatively slidable telescoping elements are in said extended position; and

a bottom support mounted to and depending from said frame, a part of said bottom support positioned centrally beneath said central open area when said frame is in said operational position such that said containers placed in said central open area are supported vertically by said bottom support.

14. The generic container holder as defined by claim 13 wherein said first and second relatively slidable telescoping elements slide in a lengthwise direction;

said housing and said frame each having a lengthwise dimension such that said lengthwise dimension of said housing is substantially shorter than the lengthwise dimension of said frame when said elements are in said extended condition.

15. A generic container holder, usable with containers over a range of lateral sizes, for mounting to a surface comprising:

a housing mountable to said surface;

a frame mounted to said housing for movement between a retracted position, wherein said frame is within said housing, and an operational position, wherein said frame extends from said housing, said frame having a portion defining a central open area for receiving said containers;

said frame including a first telescoping member and a second telescoping member for moving between an extended condition and a collapsed condition as said frame moves between said retracted and operational positions, said first telescoping member slidable on said housing, said second telescoping member slidable on said first telescoping member, said first and second telescoping members having a first width and a second width, respectively, wherein said first width is less than said second width.

16. A generic container holder, usable with containers over a range of lateral sizes, for mounting to a surface comprising:

a housing mountable to said surface;

a frame mounted to said housing for movement between a retracted position, wherein said frame is within said housing, and an operational position, wherein said frame extends from said housing, said frame having a portion defining a central open area for receiving said containers;

said frame including a first telescoping member and a second telescoping member for moving between an extended condition and a collapsed condition as said frame moves between said retracted and operational positions, said first telescoping member slidable on said housing and said second telescoping member slidable on said first telescoping member, said second telescoping member including a pair of extensions laterally disposed about said first telescoping member.