Adaptable bin with retractable cup holder

• US 8,695,843 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2012
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Brinas, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): STODOLA, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US13/654,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20140110420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 220/737, 220/738, 224/281, 224/282, 224/926, 224/485, 296/37.1, 296/37.14, 296/37.8, 248/311.2
• US Class Current: 220/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position

Abstract

An adaptable bin having a retractable cup holder includes a bin wall and a bin floor. The bin wall and the bin floor define a storage volume, which substantially encapsulates the retractable cup holder. A plurality of spiral links are movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. At least one of the plurality of spiral links is operatively attached to one of the bin wall and the bin floor. A cup holder axis is defined by the plurality of spiral links, each of which rotates about the cup holder axis between the stowed position and deployed position. The plurality of spiral links define the retractable cup holder in the deployed position.

Claims

1. An adaptable bin having a first cup holder, comprising:

a storage volume defined by a bin wall and a bin floor, wherein the storage volume encapsulates the first cup holder;

a first link operatively attached to one of the bin wall and the bin floor, wherein the first link is movable between a stowed position adjacent to the bin wall and a deployed position away from the bin wall;

a second link operatively attached to the first link, wherein the second link is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the bin wall and to the first link; and

a cup holder axis defined by the first link and the second link, wherein the cup holder axis does not intersect the first link and the second link, and the first link rotates about the cup holder axis between the stowed position and deployed position and the second link rotates about the cup holder axis between the stowed position and deployed position.

2. The adaptable bin of claim 1,

wherein the first link includes an upper mating feature on an upper side thereof,

wherein the second link includes a lower mating feature on a lower side thereof, and

wherein the lower mating feature of the second link is configured to cooperate with the upper mating feature of the first link, such that the second link moves between the stowed position and the deployed position by one of the lower mating feature and the upper mating feature sliding relative to the other.

3. The adaptable bin of claim 2, wherein the second link includes an upper mating feature on an upper side thereof, and further comprising:

a third link substantially identical to the second link and operatively attached to the upper mating feature of the second link, wherein the third link is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the bin wall and to the second link; and

a fourth link substantially identical to the second link and operatively attached to the top of the third link, wherein the fourth link is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the third link.

4. The adaptable bin of claim 3, wherein the first link, the second link, the third link, and the fourth link are offset by substantially ninety degrees about the cup holder axis in the deployed position.

5. The adaptable bin of claim 4,

wherein the upper mating feature is a pin slot, and

wherein the lower mating feature is a pin.

6. The adaptable bin of claim 5,

wherein the first link further includes a track on the upper side, and

wherein the second link further includes a track receptacle on the lower side, wherein the track receptacle is configured to slidably receive the track of the first link, such that the second link moves between the stowed position and the deployed position by sliding along the track of the first link.

7. The adaptable bin of claim 6, further comprising:

a first detent formed in the pin slot and extending toward the pin, such that the first detent impedes movement of the pin through the pin slot; and

a second detent formed in the pin slot and extending toward the pin, such that the second detent impedes movement of the pin through the pin slot.

8. The adaptable bin of claim 7, further comprising:

a first guide rail formed on the bin wall.

9. The adaptable bin of claim 8, further comprising:

a fifth link substantially identical to the second link and operatively attached to the upper mating feature of the fourth link, wherein the fifth link is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the bin wall and to the fourth link;

a sixth link substantially identical to the second link and operatively attached to the top of the fifth link, wherein the sixth link is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the fifth link;

a seventh link substantially identical to the second link and operatively attached to the upper mating feature of the sixth link, wherein the seventh link is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the bin wall and to the sixth link; and

an eighth link operatively attached to the top of the seventh link, wherein the eighth link is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the seventh link, but does not include the track and does not include the pin slot.

10. The adaptable bin of claim 9, wherein the first through eighth links have an arc shape, such that they are curved about the cup holder axis.

11. The adaptable bin of claim 10, wherein the adaptable bin has a second cup holder, which is substantially identical to the first cup holder and wherein the storage volume encapsulates the second cup holder.

12. An adaptable bin having a retractable cup holder, comprising:

a bin wall;

a bin floor;

a storage volume defined by the bin wall and the bin floor, wherein the storage volume substantially encapsulates the retractable cup holder;

a plurality of spiral links, wherein at least one of the plurality of spiral links is operatively attached to one of the bin wall and the bin floor, and each of the plurality of spiral links is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position; and

a cup holder axis defined by the plurality of spiral links, wherein each of the plurality of spiral links rotates about the cup holder axis between the stowed position and deployed position to define the retractable cup holder, and the cup holder axis does not intersect any of the plurality of spiral links.

13. The adaptable bin of claim 12, wherein the plurality of spiral links have an arc shape, such that they are curved about the cup holder axis.

14. The adaptable bin of claim 13, wherein:

in the stowed position, each of the plurality of spiral links is proximal to at least one neighboring spiral link; and

in the deployed position, each of the plurality of spiral links is substantially distal to at least one neighboring spiral link.

15. The adaptable bin of claim 14,

wherein a lower side of each of the plurality of spiral links includes a pin, and

wherein an upper side of at least two of the plurality of spiral links includes a pin slot configured to slidably receive the pin of a respective adjacent spiral link.

16. The adaptable bin of claim 15,

wherein the lower side of each of the plurality of spiral links includes a track slot, and

wherein the upper side of at least two of the plurality of spiral links includes a track configured to be slidably received within the track slot of a respective adjacent spiral link.

17. An adaptable bin having a first cup holder movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the adaptable bin comprising:

a storage volume defined by a bin wall and a bin floor, wherein the storage volume encapsulates the first cup holder;

a cup holder axis, wherein the first cup holder is defined around the cup holder axis and substantially surrounds the cup holder axis in the deployed position;

a first link operatively attached to one of the bin wall and the bin floor, such that the first link is rotatable about the cup holder axis between a stowed position adjacent to the bin wall and a deployed position away from the bin wall;

a second link operatively attached to the first link, such that the second link is rotatable about the cup holder axis between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the bin wall and to the first link; and

wherein the cup holder axis does not intersect the first link and the second link.

18. The adaptable bin of claim 17,

wherein the first link includes an upper mating feature on an upper side thereof,

wherein the second link includes a lower mating feature on a lower side thereof, and

wherein the lower mating feature of the second link is configured to cooperate with the upper mating feature of the first link, such that the second link moves between the stowed position and the deployed position by one of the lower mating feature and the upper mating feature sliding relative to the other.

19. The adaptable bin of claim 18, wherein the first link and the second link have an arc shape, such that they are curved about the cup holder axis.