Sliding/adjusting container holder

• US 7,487,946 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Thomas, Gregory Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Korie
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARSH, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US11/094,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20060237612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 248/311.2, 248/309.1, 224/926, 224/281, 224/552
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence

Abstract

A container holder for a vehicle includes a container bin unit with a cavity and a size adjustment mechanism. The cavity has a first portion and a second portion. The adjustment mechanism includes a dual adjustment piece and a single adjustment piece, which are movable between at least a retracted and extended position. When in the extended position, the dual or single adjustment pieces extend into the first portion and/or second portion of the cavity to adjust the diameter of the portions. The adjustment pieces allow for the container holder to adequately hold one small container and one large container, two small containers, or two large containers.

Claims

1. A storage device for a vehicle, comprising:

a bin including a cavity formed therein, the cavity including a side wall structure including a first side wall and a second side wall defining an opening of the cavity; and

an adjustment mechanism, the adjustment mechanism including

a body member selectively positionable to extend from the first side wall across to the second side wall of the opening, the body member moveable between a stowed position and a usage position, and, in the usage position, the body member divides the opening into a first storage opening and a second storage opening;

a dual adjustment member coupled to the body member, the dual adjustment member being rotatable between a retracted position in which portions of the dual adjustment member are retracted, and an extended position in which the portions of the dual adjustment member extend relative to the body member into the first and second storage openings thereby decreasing an effective opening of the first and second storage openings; and

a single adjustment member coupled to the body member, the single adjustment member being rotatable between a retracted position in which a portion of the single adjustment member is retracted, and an extended position in which the portion of the single adjustment member extends relative to the body member into only one of the first or second storage openings thereby decreasing an effective opening of the one of the first or second storage openings.

2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein when the body member is in the stowed position the opening of the cavity is substantially unobstructed, and when the body member is in the usage position the adjustment mechanism divides the opening into the first and second storage openings.

3. The storage device according to claim 2, wherein the body member slides between the stowed position and the usage position.

4. The storage device according to claim 2, further comprising a second cavity formed proximally to the cavity in the bin.

5. The storage device according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment mechanism covers the second cavity when the body member is in the stowed position.

6. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the dual adjustment member is concealed by the body member when the dual adjustment member is in the retracted position.

7. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the single adjustment member is concealed by the body member when the single adjustment member is in the retracted position.

8. A storage device for a vehicle, comprising:

a container bin unit having a bottom surface and a wall structure including a first side wall and a second side wall surrounding the bottom surface, the wall structure having an upper surface defining an opening; and

a slidable adjustment mechanism, the adjustment mechanism including;

a body member selectively positionable to extend from the first side wall and across to the second side wall of the opening, the body member slidable between a stowed position and a usage position, and, in the usage position, the body member divides the opening into a first storage opening and a second storage opening; and

a single adjustment member, the single adjustment member being rotatable between a retracted position in which a portion of the single adjustment member is retracted, and an extended position in which a portion of the single adjustment member extends relative to the body member into only one of the first or second storage openings thereby decreasing the effective opening of the one of the first or second storage openings;

wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises a dual adjustment member, the dual adjustment member being rotatable between a retracted position and an extended position in which portions of the dual adjustment member extend relative to the body member into the first and second storage openings thereby decreasing the effective opening of the first and second storage openings.

9. The storage device according to claim 8, wherein the single adjustment member includes an arcuate outer edge.

10. The storage device according to claim 9, wherein a radius of curvature of the arcuate outer edge is substantially similar to a radius of curvature of an arcuate edge of the body member.

11. The storage device according to claim 8, wherein opposite ends of the opening are substantially semi-circular.

12. An article holder for a vehicle comprising:

a container holding bin including a bottom surface and a wall structure surrounding the bottom surface, the wall structure having an upper surface defining a receiving aperture;

a sliding member movable between a stowed position and a usage position, and dividing the receiving aperture into two container receiving apertures when in the usage position;

a first rotating member coupled to the sliding member, the first rotating member being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the first rotating member extending into both container receiving apertures when in the extended position thereby decreasing the effective opening of both container receiving apertures; and

a second rotating member coupled to the sliding member, the second rotating member being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the second rotating member extending into only one of the container receiving apertures when in the extended position thereby decreasing the effective opening of the one of the container receiving apertures.

13. The article holder of claim 12, further comprising a second holding bin adjacent to the container holding bin, the second holding bin including a second bottom surface and a second wall structure surrounding the second bottom surface, the second wall structure including a second upper surface defining a second receiving aperture.

14. The article holder of claim 13, wherein the sliding member conceals the second receiving aperture when the sliding member is in the stowed position.

15. The article holder of claim 12, wherein the container holding bin includes at least one track formed adjacent to the receiving aperture.

16. The article holder of claim 15, wherein the sliding member includes at least one arm.

17. The article holder of claim 16, wherein the at least one arm slidingly engages the at least one track such that the sliding member is capable of sliding along a length of the track to move between the stowed and usage positions.

18. The article holder of claim 12, wherein the sliding member conceals the first and second rotating members when the first and second rotating members are in the retracted position.

19. The article holder of claim 12, further comprising a dial member rotatably coupled to the sliding member, wherein the dial member engages the first rotating member and the second rotating member.

20. The article holder of claim 19, wherein the first and second rotating members are in the retracted position when the dial member is in a first position.

21. The article holder of claim 20, wherein the dial member moves the first rotating member when the dial member rotates from the first position to a second position, and the dial member moves the second rotating member when the dial member rotates from the first position to a third position.

22. The article holder of claim 21, wherein the dial member moves the first rotating member from the retracted position to the extended position when the dial member rotates from the first position to the second position.

23. The article holder of claim 21, wherein the dial member moves the first rotating member from the extended position to the retracted position when the dial member rotates from the second position to the first position.

24. The article holder of claim 21, wherein the dial member moves the second rotating member from the retracted position to the extended position when the dial member rotates from the first position to the third position.

25. The article holder of claim 21, wherein the dial member moves the second rotating member from the extended position to the retracted position when the dial member rotates from the third position to the first position.

26. The article holder of claim 21, wherein the dial member rotates 90°

in the clockwise direction when rotated from the first to the second position.

27. The article holder of claim 21, wherein the dial member rotates 90°

in the counter-clockwise direction when rotated from the first to the third position.

28. The article holder of claim 12, wherein the first and second rotating members are capable of moving into the extended position only when the sliding member is in the usage position.

29. The article holder of claim 12, further comprising a spring, the spring including a first free end attached to a receiving protrusion on the first rotating member and a second free end attached to a connector on an underside of the sliding member.

30. The article holder of claim 12, further comprising a spring, the spring including a first free end attached to a receiving protrusion on the second rotating member and a second free end attached to a connector on an underside of the sliding member.