Vehicle cupholder assembly
US5988579A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S224/926
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A cupholder assembly is adapted for use in a vehicle for supporting containers. The cupholder assembly includes a housing having a receiving aperture formed therein. A tray is slidably connected within the receiving aperture for sliding movement between storage and use positions. The first and second cupholder arms are pivotally connected to the tray for pivotal movement between fully extended and fully retracted positions. Each cupholder arm includes a side wall for supporting a side of a container. Pivotal movement of each cupholder arm with respect to the tray is sufficiently frictionally inhibited to facilitate infinite adjustment of the cupholder arms between the fully extended and fully retracted positions for supporting containers of various sizes. The frictional inhibition is facilitated by a pinching structure in cooperation with a rubber portion on each cupholder arm. The cupholder arms are frictionally inhibited when the tray is in the extended use position, and are free to rotate as the tray moves from the use position toward a stored position within the housing. Infinite adjustability of the cupholder arms is accomplished.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.