Heated cup holder system

• US 6,670,583 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kara, S. Levent
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US10/248,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 219/432, 219/385, 219/386, 219/429, 219/435, 219/436, 439/39
• US Class Current: 219/432
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2472 of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the cup can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element

Abstract

The invention relates to a heatable cup system, comprising a cup (1) and a cup holder (2), that is suitable, for example, for attachment to a console of a motor vehicle. The cup (1) and the cup holder (2) have corresponding, electric contacts (4, 5) for the supply of current to a heating element (3) in the base of the cup (1). The electric contacts of the cup holder (2) are mounted moveably and are designed as magnets (5), in order to produce a contact assisted by magnetic force.

Claims

1. A heated cup system comprising:

a cup, said cup comprising an electric heating element,

a first set of electrical contacts associated with said cup, said first set of electrical contacts being operatively coupled to said electric heating element,

a cup holder, and

a second set of electrical contacts associated with said cup holder, said second set of electrical contacts being attracted to said first set of electrical contacts by a magnetic force,

wherein said first set of electrical contacts and said second set of electrical contacts form a connection when said cup holder receives said cup in a mated position, said magnetic force facilitating said connection.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first set of electrical contacts is moveably mounted to said cup.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said first set of electrical contacts comprises magnets.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said first set of electrical contacts comprises magnetizable material.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said second set of electrical contacts comprises magnets.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein said second set of electrical contacts comprises magnetizable material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of electrical contacts is moveably mounted to said cup holder.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first set of electrical contacts comprises magnets.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said first set of electrical contacts comprises magnetizable material.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said second set of electrical contacts comprises magnets.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said second set of electrical contacts comprises magnetizable material.