Cup holder with double balance

• US 7,165,752 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LISA Drã¤Xlmaier GmbH (Fritz Dräxlmaier Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: LISA Drã¤Xlmaier GmbH (Fritz Dräxlmaier Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Dobos, Leonhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman; Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Tan
• Application Number:
  US11/038,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 248/311.2, 248/314, 248/315, 248/316.7, 248/316.1, 248/309.1, 248/309.2, 248/316.5, 248/316.3, 248/318, 297/188.01, 224/282, 224/926
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/106 with adjustable clamping mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/108 with resilient holding elements

Abstract

The invention relates to a holding device (1), preferably for storing drinks containers (12), particularly for use in motor vehicles, with a receptacle (4) having a supporting surface (11) for the drinks container (12) and at least one holding mechanism arranged on the outer circumference of the receptacle (4) whereby the holding mechanism has at least one movable element (3) essentially pressed by the spring element (2) towards the inside of the receptacle (4) characterized in that the movable element (3) rotates on bearings around an axis (10) on the receptacle (4), the receptacle (4) has a contact surface (9) for the movable element (3), and the movable element (3) has a preferably domed flexible surface (6) that extends at least partially into the receptacle (4).

Claims

1. A holding device (1) for receiving a drink container (12), comprising a receptacle (4) having a supporting surface (11) for the drink container (12) and at least one holding means disposed in an opening in an outer circumferential wall of the receptacle (4) wherein the holding means includes at least one curved spring element mounted in said receptacle and at least one curved movable element (3) rotatably mounted on said wall and pressed towards the inside of the receptacle (4) by said spring element (2) whereby

the movable element (3) is rotatable about an axis (10) on the wall of the receptacle (4),

the receptacle (4) has a contact surface (9) preventing outward movement of the movable element (3), and

the movable element (3) has a domed flexible surface (6) extending into the receptacle (4).

2. A holding device (1) according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle (4) has a cylindrical shape.

3. A holding device (1) according to claim 1 wherein the side wall of the receptacle (4) has at least two openings opposite each other.

4. A holding device (1) according to claim 3 wherein the receptacle (4) has two identical holding means.

5. A holding device (1) according to claim 4 wherein the holding means are mounted in said openings opposite each other in the receptacle (4).

6. Holding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the curved spring element (2) is made of plastic and connected to the receptacle (4) at one end with an opposite end extending inside said receptacle (4).

7. A holding device (1) according to claim 1 wherein the spring element (2) supports the movable element (3) within the receptacle.

8. A holding device (1) according to claim 1 wherein the movable element (3) rotates on bearings arranged on one end of said movable element (3) and on the receptacle (4).

9. A holding device (1) according to claim 1 wherein the flexible surface (6) of the movable element (3) has a segmental arc shaped dome.

10. A holding device (1) according to claim 1 wherein the movable element (3) has a substantially non-deformable circumferential margin (5) disposed in one plane.

11. A holding device (1) according to claim 10 wherein the flexible surface (6) extends out from the plane of the margin (5).