Adjustable container holder operated by HVAC system

• US 8,196,648 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsukawa, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): CIRIC, LJILJANA V
• Application Number:
  US11/644,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20080149300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: 165/41, 165/202, 62/36.4, 621/961, 622/16, 622/39, 622/44, 62/36.1, 454/120, 224/414, 248/311.2
• US Class Current: 165/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00592 Add-on devices, e.g. heat/cooling boxes, compartment dividers, upgrade sets
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/104 with refrigerating or warming systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/106 with adjustable clamping mechanisms

Abstract

An air expandable bladder grips a beverage container within the vehicle and serves as a beverage holder. The container holder utilizes a hot air duct that receives its hot air from the heater core and its cold air from the evaporator, both of which may be located within the HVAC case. An air inlet duct receives the hot, cold, or blended air from an air mixing valve and directs the air into, and expands, the bladder. An exit orifice may exist in the bladder to release air from the bladder and provide back pressure in the bladder. A user-controlled switch permits a person to select whether hot, cold, or blended air will pass into the bladder inlet duct. The drink holder may be located within a center console, dash, door or other location within the vehicle interior.

Claims

1. A liquid drink container receptacle in a vehicle comprising:

an HVAC case that contains an evaporator and a heater core;

an inner wall and a bottom surface of the liquid drink container receptacle which together surround the liquid drink container;

an air inlet duct connected to an opening on the inner wall; and

a bladder set along the inner wall and the bottom surface, the bladder for receiving air from either of the evaporator or the heater core via the air inlet duct, the bladder inflating between the inner wall and the liquid drink container and between the bottom surface and the CUP and contacting the liquid drink container.

2. The liquid drink container receptacle of claim 1, further comprising:

an air outlet orifice in the bladder that permits air to exit from the bladder.

3. The liquid drink container receptacle of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve to control air flowing into the air inlet duct and the bladder.

4. The cup holder of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve to control air flowing into the air inlet duct and the bladder; and

a switch to control positions of the valve.

5. The cup holder of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising:

a valve to control air exiting the bladder.

6. The liquid drink container receptacle of claim 1, further comprising a manual release valve on the bladder.

7. The liquid drink container receptacle of claim 1, further comprising:

a weight sensor within the liquid drink container receptacle that senses weight of the liquid drink container.

8. The liquid drink container receptacle of claim 7, further comprising:

a bladder valve located in the bladder to release air in the bladder in accordance with weight sensed by the weight sensor.

9. The liquid drink container receptacle of claim 1, further comprising:

a bladder valve to release air from the bladder; and

a release button, wherein the release button activates the bladder valve.

10. The liquid drink container receptacle of claim 1, wherein the bladder is made of rubber.

11. The liquid drink container receptacle of claim 1, wherein the bladder forms a cylindrical shape.

12. A liquid drink container receptacle in a vehicle comprising:

an inner wall and a bottom surface of the liquid drink container receptacle which accepts the liquid drink container;

a hot air duct that fluidly communicates with a heater core;

a cold air duct that fluidly communicates with an evaporator;

an air inlet duct connected to an opening on the inner wall;

a first valve to direct air from the hot air duct and the cold air duct to the inlet duct; and

a bladder set along the inner wall and over and against the bottom surface, the bladder for receiving air from the air inlet duct and inflating between the inner wall and the liquid drink container and between the bottom surface and the liquid drink container and contacting the liquid drink container on a bottom surface of the liquid drink container.

13. The liquid drink container receptacle claim 12, further comprising a second valve in the bladder, wherein the second valve expels air from the bladder.

14. The liquid drink container receptacle of claim 12, further comprising a switch, wherein the switch controls a position of the first valve.

15. The liquid drink container receptacle of claim 12, wherein the bladder defines an orifice that expels air.

16. The liquid drink container receptacle of claim 12, further comprising:

a bladder valve; and

a weight sensor, wherein the weight sensor triggers the bladder valve to expel air when there is weight on the weight sensor.

17. A liquid drink container receptacle in a vehicle comprising:

an inner wall and a bottom surface of the liquid drink container receptacle, the inner wall defining an opening, the inner wall and the bottom surface surrounding a portion of the liquid drink container;

an air inlet duct connected to the opening defined by the inner wall;

a valve to control air blending between a hot air duct and a cold air duct and to direct blended air into the air inlet duct;

an expanded bladder set along the inner wall and over and against the bottom surface, the expanded bladder configured to receive air from the air inlet duct and be inflated between the inner wall and the liquid drink container and contacting the inner wall and the liquid drink container, the expanded bladder inflated between the bottom surface and the liquid drink container and contacting the bottom surface of the liquid drink container;

a weight sensor located under the bladder and in the bottom surface of the liquid drink container receptacle; and

a bladder exit valve that opens and closes to respectively deflate and inflate the bladder according to a weight sensed by the weight sensor.