Holding device for a drinks container in a motor vehicle

• US 6,234,438 B1
• Filed: 05/07/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Kassel, Armin, Nienhaus, Ulrich, Breunig, Steffen, Notz, Friedrich, Plocher, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELUCA, JEROME A
• Application Number:
  US09/307,038
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 248/311.2, 248/278.1, 248/280.11, 224/926, 297/188, 297/194
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/106 with adjustable clamping mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/926 Vehicle attached carrier for beverage container or bottle

Abstract

The holding device for a drinks container is designed to be installed in the center console of an automobile. It has first drinks container holder (36), which is slidable upward in a laterally oriented initial position from a withdrawn position and subsequently pivotable into a horizontally oriented upright position of use. A first pivot locking device (60,62,64,66) is provided for keeping the first drinks container holder (36) in the substantially laterally oriented initial position against the force of a pivoting spring element until it reaches an upper end position. When it reaches the upper end position, an unlocking device (68,70) is engaged which automatically unlocks the first locking device so that the first drinks container holder (36) can pivot into the horizontally oriented upright position of use. A second locking device is provided for retaining the first drinks container holder (36) in the horizontally oriented upright position of use.

Claims

1. A holding device for a drinks container in a motor vehicle, said holding device comprising

a first drinks container holder (36) comprising means for holding the drinks container, said first drinks container holder (36) having a substantially laterally oriented initial position and a horizontally oriented upright position use;

pivot means (32) for pivoting the first drinks container holder (36) from the substantially laterally oriented initial position into the horizontally oriented upright position of use, said pivot means (32) for pivoting the first drinks container holder (36) comprising a pivoting spring element arrange to urge the first drinks container holder (36) out of the substantially laterally oriented initial position into the horizontally oriented upright position use;

a slideway (18, 20), on which said first drinks container holder (36) is guided slidably upwards while remaining in the substantially laterally oriented initial position;

a slide (22) guided slidably on said slideway (18, 20), said first drinks container holder (36) being pivotally mounted on said slide (22) by means of said pivot means (32) for pivoting the first drinks container holder;

a first locking means (60,62,64,66) for retaining the first drinks container holder (36) in the substantially laterally oriented initial position against the force of the pivoting spring element while said first drinks container holder (36) is guided upwards on said slideway and until the slide (22) reaches an upper end 22 position; and

means (68,70) for automatically unlocking the first locking means when the slide (22) reaches the upper end position.

2. The holding device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second locking means for fixing said first drinks container holder (36) in the horizontally oriented upright position of use.

3. The holding device as defined in claim 1, further comprising another spring element for slidably displacing the slide (22) upwards from below toward the upper end position, and a slide-locking device (24, 26, 28) for holding said slide (22) in a lower position thereof against the force of the another spring element for slidably displacing the slide upwards.

4. A holding device for a drinks container in a motor vehicle, said holding device comprising

a first drinks container holder (36) comprising means for holding the drinks container, said first drinks container holder (36) having a substantially laterally oriented initial position and a horizontally oriented upright position of use;

a second drinks container holder (50) for holding the drinks container;

means for mounting said second drinks container holder (50) in said first drinks container holder and for moving said second drinks container holder out from said first drinks container holder (36) when said first drinks container holder (36) is in said horizontally oriented upright position of use;

pivot means (32) for pivoting the first drinks container holder (36) from the substantially laterally oriented initial position into the horizontally oriented upright position of use, said pivot means (32) for pivoting the first drinks container holder (36) comprising a pivoting spring element arrange to urge the first drinks container holder (36) out of the substantially laterally oriented initial position into the horizontally oriented upright position of use;

a slideway (18, 20), on which said first drinks container holder (36) is guided slidably upwards in the substantially laterally oriented initial position;

a slide (22) guided slidably on said slideway (18, 20), said first drinks container holder (36) being pivotally mounted on said slide (22) by means of said pivot means (32) for pivoting the first drinks container holder;

a first locking means (60,62,64) for retaining the first drinks container holder (36) in the substantially laterally oriented initial position against the force of the pivoting spring element while said first drinks container holder (36) is guided upwards on said slideway and until the slide (22) reaches an upper end position; and

means (68,70) for automatically unlocking the first locking means when the slide (22) reaches an upper end position.

5. A holding device for a drinks container in a motor vehicle, said holding device comprising

a first drinks container holder (36) comprising means for holding the drinks container, said first drinks container holder (36) having a substantially laterally oriented initial position and a horizontally oriented upright position of use;

pivot means (32) for pivoting the first drinks container holder (36) from the substantially laterally oriented initial position into the horizontally oriented upright position of use, said pivot means (32) for pivoting the first drinks container holder (36) comprising a pivoting spring element arrange to urge the first drinks container holder (36) out of the substantially laterally oriented initial position into the horizontally oriented upright position of use;

a first locking means (60,62,64,66) for retaining the first drinks container holder (36) in the substantially laterally oriented initial position against the force of the pivoting spring element while said first drinks container holder (36) is guided upwards and until the first drinks container holder (36) reaches an upper end position; and

means (68,70) for automatically unlocking the first locking means when the first drinks container holder (36) reaches the upper end position.

6. The holding device as defined in claim 5, further comprising a slideway (18, 20), on which said first drinks container holder (36) is guided slidably upwards in the substantially laterally oriented initial position and a slide (22) guided slidably on said slideway (18, 20), said first drinks container holder (36) being pivotally mounted on said slide (22) by means of said pivot means (32) for pivoting the first drinks container holder.