A cup holder assembly for accommodating and clamping a cup

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cup holder assembly for accommodating and clamping a cup, comprising a shell; a plurality of side walls, which are arranged to move between a separated position and a closed position relative to the shell; a cover plate, which is arranged to move between a closed position covering the side walls and an open position completely exposing the side walls relative to the shell; and a mechanism, which is arranged to make the cover plate move downward from the closed position to the open position, and after the cover plate reaches the open position, make the side wall move from the separated position to the closed position to form a circumferentially closed concave cavity for accommodating the cup. According to the cup holder assembly for accommodating and clamping a cup of the present invention, a plurality of side walls move from the separated position to the closed position to form a circumferentially closed concave cavity, and the cup is accommodated and clamped in the concave cavity. With the help of the movement of the side walls, the shape of the cover plate is not limited, for example, it can be a pentagon or a hexagon, etc.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to automobile interior decoration, and more particularly to a cup holder assembly for accommodating and holding a cup. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous improvement of technology and user needs, the requirements for the form of cup holders used in cars are also constantly increasing. For example, there are the most common open cup holders, and there are also cup holders with rolling shutter doors, such as those mentioned in the public patent document CN202010809898.2; there are also lifting cup holders, such as those mentioned in the public patent document CN 201910693297.7, etc. However, due to structural limitations, these existing technologies generally have round, square, rectangular, and waist-round openings, lacking novel design; and lifting cup holders generally have a common limitation, that is, the cup cover must not be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the water bottle storage space, otherwise the lifting movement cannot be achieved. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to solve the problem of limited shape of cup covers in the prior art, the present invention provides a cup holder assembly for accommodating and clamping a cup.

[0004] The cup holder assembly for accommodating and clamping a cup according to the present invention comprises a shell; a plurality of side walls, which are arranged to move between a separated position and a closed position relative to the shell; a cover plate, which is arranged to move between a closed position covering the side walls and an open position completely exposing the side walls relative to the shell; and a mechanism, which is arranged to move the cover plate downward from the closed position to the open position, and after the cover plate reaches the open position, to move the side walls from the separated position to the closed position to form a circumferentially closed concave cavity for accommodating the cup.

[0005] Preferably, at least part of the covering surface of the cover plate exceeds the cross section of the cavity. For example, when the cover plate and the cavity have the same shape, the covering area of ​​the cover plate is larger than the cross section of the cavity. For another example, when the cover plate is a star-shaped special-shaped piece, although the covering area of ​​the cover plate may be smaller than the cross section of the cavity, the extended finger portion thereof extends beyond the cross section of the cavity.

[0006] Preferably, when the side wall is in the separation position, two adjacent side walls are separated from each other to avoid the cover plate, thereby facilitating the cover plate to move between the closed position and the open position.

[0007] Preferably, when the side walls are in the closed position, two adjacent side walls abut against each other to form the concave cavity.

[0008] Preferably, each side wall comprises a front wall and a rear arm connected to the front wall, wherein the rear arm is rotatably connected to the housing to ensure that when the side walls are located in the closed position, the front walls of two adjacent side walls abut against each other to form the concave cavity.

[0009] Preferably, the mechanism comprises a screw for driving the cover to move between the closed position and the open position.

[0010] Preferably, when the side walls are located at the separated position, the screw rod is located between the front walls of two adjacent side walls; when the side walls are located at the closed position, the screw rod is located outside the concave cavity.

[0011] Preferably, a corner is formed at the junction of the rear arm and the front wall so as to avoid the screw rod when the side wall is in the closed position.

[0012] Preferably, the mechanism includes a folding and lifting mechanism that drives the cover plate to move between the closed position and the open position, and when the side wall is in the separated position, the folding and lifting mechanism is stretched and located on the inner side of the side wall; when the side wall is in the closed position, the folding and lifting mechanism is folded and located below the side wall.

[0013] Preferably, the folding lifting mechanism comprises at least two connecting rod groups, each connecting rod group comprises two short connecting rods and at least one long connecting rod connected between the two short connecting rods.

[0014] Preferably, the length of the long connecting rod is twice the length of the short connecting rod; the folding and lifting mechanism also includes a balance plate, which is connected to the middle position of the long connecting rod to ensure the smooth movement of the cover plate.

[0015] Preferably, the side wall has a pin, and the mechanism includes a turntable providing a plurality of track grooves, and the pin cooperates with the track grooves so that the pin moves along the track grooves in response to the rotation of the turntable to drive the movement of the side wall.

[0016] Preferably, the track groove is designed to limit the side wall from driving the turntable to rotate under the action of an external force when the side wall is located in the closed position.

[0017] Preferably, the side wall further has a claw connected to the side wall in a deflectable manner so as to clamp cups of different sizes placed in the cavity.

[0018] According to the cup holder assembly for holding and clamping a cup of the present invention, a plurality of side walls move from a separated position to a closed position to form a circumferentially closed concave cavity, in which the cup is held and clamped. With the movement of the side walls, the shape of the cover is not limited, for example, it can be a pentagon or a hexagon, etc. In particular, with the movement of the side walls, at least part of the covering surface of the cover passes over the cross section of the concave cavity. In short, according to the cup holder assembly for holding and clamping a cup of the present invention, it can not only break through the limitations of the traditional structure to achieve a novel shape design, but also integrate automatic sensing to embody mechatronics and intelligence. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1A is an overall schematic diagram of a vehicle including a cup holder assembly for accommodating and clamping a cup according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 1B yes Figure 1A a schematic perspective view of the interior of a vehicle;

[0021] Figure 2A is an overall schematic diagram of a secondary instrument panel including a cup holder assembly for accommodating and clamping a cup according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a closed state;

[0022] Figure 2B yes Figure 2A A partial schematic diagram of a cup holder assembly;

[0023] Figure 3A yes Figure 2B A schematic diagram of the cup holder assembly with the cover in a closed position;

[0024] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A A schematic diagram of the cup holder assembly with the cover in an open position and the side wall in a separated position;

[0025] Figure 3C yes Figure 3B A schematic diagram of the cup holder assembly with the cover in an open position and the side wall in a closed position;

[0026] Figure 3D yes Figure 3C Schematic diagram of the cup holder assembly when placing a cup;

[0027] Figure 4A is a schematic diagram of a cup holder assembly for accommodating and clamping a cup according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4B yes Figure 4A Explosion diagram of

[0029] Figure 5 yes Figure 4AA schematic structural diagram of an intermediate housing of a cup holder assembly;

[0030] Figure 6 yes Figure 4A A schematic diagram of the structure in which the side wall of the cup holder assembly is in a separated position;

[0031] Fig. 7A yes Figure 4A A schematic structural diagram of a turntable of a cup holder assembly;

[0032] Figure 7B yes Fig. 7A A top view schematic diagram of a turntable;

[0033] Fig. 8A yes Figure 4A A structural schematic diagram of the cover of the cup holder assembly in a closed position;

[0034] Figure 8B yes Figure 4A A structural schematic diagram of a cup holder assembly with a cover in an open position;

[0035] Fig. 9A yes Figure 4A A schematic diagram of the structure of the cup holder assembly with the cover in a closed position and the side wall in a separated position;

[0036] Fig. 9B yes Figure 4A A schematic diagram of the structure of the cup holder assembly with the cover in an open position and the side wall in a separated position;

[0037] Fig. 10A yes Figure 4A A top view of the cup holder assembly with the cover in an open position and the side wall in a separated position;

[0038] Fig. 10B yes Figure 4A A top view of the cup holder assembly with the cover in a closed position and the side wall in a closed position;

[0039] Fig.11 is a schematic diagram of a cup holder assembly for accommodating and clamping a cup according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Fig. 12A yes Fig.11 A schematic structural diagram of the folding and lifting mechanism of the cup holder assembly in a folded state;

[0041] Fig. 12B yes Fig.11 A schematic diagram of the structure of the folding and lifting mechanism of the cup holder assembly in the unfolded state;

[0042] Fig.13A yes Fig.11A bottom schematic diagram of the folding and lifting mechanism of the cup holder assembly in a folded state;

[0043] Fig. 13B yes Fig.11 A bottom schematic diagram of the folding and lifting mechanism of the cup holder assembly in the unfolded state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are given below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and described in detail.

[0045] The cup holder assembly for holding a cup according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be applied to Figure 1A-1B In the vehicle V shown in the figure, the interior of the vehicle V has an instrument panel IP and a sub-instrument panel FC, and the cup holder assembly according to the present invention can be arranged at the instrument panel IP and / or the sub-instrument panel FC. Figure 2A-2B As shown, this embodiment takes the arrangement of the cup holder assembly on the auxiliary instrument panel FC as an example. The auxiliary instrument panel FC provides an opening OP, which is a pentagon. The cover plate 20 of the cup holder assembly is in a closed position to cover the opening OP, and the cover plate 20 is flush with the upper surface of the auxiliary instrument panel FC outside the opening OP, which is more beautiful.

[0046] The usage mode of the cup holder assembly according to the present invention is as follows: Figure 3A-3D As shown, when the cup holder assembly is in the closed state, the cover 20 of the cup holder assembly is in the closed position. When the user touches the touch area of ​​the cover 20, the cover 20 moves downward from the closed position under the drive of a motor, for example, to expose the cover 20 formed by the housing 10 (see Figure 4A ) is defined as a cavity H for accommodating a plurality of side walls 30. When the cover plate 20 sinks to an open position below the bottom surface of the side wall to completely expose the side wall, the side walls 30 move from a separated position to a closed position to form a closed cavity R for accommodating the cup BO, driven by a motor, for example. At this time, when the cup BO is put in, the claws 34 extending from the side wall 30 will clamp the cup BO to prevent the cup BO from tipping over. On the contrary, after a certain period of time when the user takes away the cup BO, the side wall 30 moves from the closed position to the separated position, driven by a motor, for example, to provide an ascending channel for the cover plate 20. Only when the side wall 30 moves to the separated position, the cover plate 20 moves upward from the open position to the closed position covering the side wall, driven by a motor, for example.

[0047] like Figure 4A-4BAs shown, the cup holder assembly includes a housing 10; a plurality of side walls 30 that move between a separated position and a closed position relative to the housing 10, when the side walls 30 are in the separated position, two adjacent side walls 30 are away from each other; when the side walls 30 are in the closed position, two adjacent side walls 30 are close to each other to form a circumferentially closed cavity R; a cover plate 20 that moves between a closed position and an open position relative to the housing 10, when the cover plate 20 is in the closed position, the side walls 30 are covered; when the cover plate 20 is in the open position, the side walls 30 are exposed; and a mechanism 40 that is configured to move the cover plate 20 between the closed position and the open position and to move the side walls 30 between the separated position and the closed position. In this embodiment, with the help of the movement of the side walls 30, the covering area of ​​the cover plate 20 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the cavity R.

[0048] like Figure 4B , Figure 5 and Figure 8A-8B As shown, the housing 10 includes a guide rod 11 for guiding the cover plate 20 to move between the closed position and the open position; a lower housing 12 connected to the guide rod 11; an intermediate housing 13 connected to a plurality of side walls 30; and an upper housing 14 installed above the intermediate housing 13. Figure 5 As shown, the intermediate housing 13 includes an upper surface 131 connected to the upper housing 14, a lower surface 132 connected to the lower housing 12, and a cavity H (see FIG. 1 ) formed by connecting the upper surface 131 and the lower surface 132 to accommodate the side wall 30. Figure 3B ).

[0049] The mechanism 40 includes a motor for driving the cover plate 20 and a motor for driving the side wall 30. Figure 4B and Figure 8A-8B As shown, the motors driving the cover plate 20 to move are two linear motors 42 connected to the cover plate 20 through screw rods 41. Figure 4B and Figure 10A-10B As shown, the motor driving the side wall 30 is a rotary motor 45 connected to a rotating disk 44 via a gear 43. Figure 4B As shown, the turntable 44 is installed between the middle housing 13 and the lower housing 12 and is located below the side wall 30. The two linear motors 42 are arranged below the lower housing 12. One end of the two screw rods 41 passes through the lower housing 12, the turntable 44 and the cover plate 20 in sequence and is connected to the upper surface 131 of the middle housing 13. The other ends of the two screw rods 41 are connected to the linear motors 42. Figure 10A-10B As shown, the rotary motor 45 is arranged in the intermediate housing 13 (see Figure 4B ) side, the output shaft of the rotating motor 45 is coaxial with the rotating shaft of the gear 43, so that the rotating motor 45 drives the gear 43 to rotate synchronously. Figure 7A-7B As shown, at least a portion of the circumferential wall of the rotating disk 44 has teeth 441, and the gear 43 (see Figure 10A-10B) meshes with the tooth 441, so that the rotation of the gear 43 drives the rotation of the rotating disk 44. Figure 7A-7B As shown, a plurality of track grooves 442 are also provided on the end surface of the rotating disk 44 corresponding to the plurality of side walls 30 , so that the side walls 30 move along the track grooves 442 between the separated position and the closed position.

[0050] like Figure 6 , Figure 9A-9B and Figure 10A-10B As shown, there are four side walls 30, each of which includes a front wall 31 and a rear arm 32 connected to each other. In this embodiment, the front wall 31 is designed as an arc wall, such as Fig. 10A As shown, when the side walls 30 are in the separated position, the guide rod 11 and the screw rod 41 are located between the front walls 31 of two adjacent side walls 30, as shown in FIG. Fig. 10B As shown, when the side walls 30 are in the closed position, the front walls 31 of two adjacent side walls 30 are close to each other to form a cup BO (see Figure 3D ) of the concave cavity R, the guide rod 11 and the screw rod 41 are located outside the concave cavity R. In particular, the rear arm 32 is designed to extend outward from the side of the front wall 31 facing away from the concave cavity R and form a corner 321 at the junction of the rear arm 32 and the front wall 31, and the corner 321 is used to avoid the guide rod 11 and the screw rod 41 when the side wall 30 moves to the closed position. Figure 4B The rear arm 32 is rotatably connected to the intermediate housing 13 via the fixed shaft 15 to ensure that the side wall 30 rotates relative to the intermediate housing 13. Figure 4B and Figure 7B The front wall 31 is provided with a pin 33, which is inserted into the track groove 442 of the rotating disk 44. As the rotating disk 44 moves, the pin 33 is driven to move along the track groove 442, thereby realizing the movement of the side wall 30 between the separated position and the closed position. Figure 7B As shown, at least one end of the track groove 442 is designed to be an arc with the rotation axis of the turntable 44 as the center. When the side wall 30 moves to the separated position or the closed position, or when the pin 33 is located at either end of the track groove 442, the side wall 30 cannot drive the turntable 44 even when subjected to an external force (such as the reaction force of the cup on the side wall 30), that is, the side wall 30 is locked. Figure 6 As shown, the side wall 30 also includes a device for clamping the cup BO (see Figure 3D ) of the claw 34, the claw 34 is connected to the side wall 30 via the shaft 35 so as to be deflected and the cup BO (see Figure 3D ) to apply clamping force.

[0051] The cup holder assembly also includes a touch module disposed in the cover plate 20, so that the user can start opening the cup holder assembly by touching the cover plate 20. It is conceivable that the touch module can also be eliminated and the cup holder assembly can be started by setting a physical button instead.

[0052] The cup holder assembly also includes a plurality of sensors, such as Figure 4A-4B As shown, the upper housing 14 is provided with an infrared sensor 61 for sensing the cup BO placed in the cup holder assembly (see Figure 3D );like Figure 5 and Fig. 10A As shown, a stop sensor 62 is provided on each of the lower housing 12 and the intermediate housing 13, for respectively identifying that the cover plate 20 is in the open position and the closed position; Figure 5 As shown, two stop sensors 63 are additionally provided on the intermediate housing 13 for respectively identifying that the side wall 30 is located at the separated position and the closed position.

[0053] The working principle of the cup holder assembly is explained in detail below.

[0054] like Figure 4A As shown, the cup holder assembly is in a closed state, and the cover 20 is in a closed position. When the user touches the touch area of ​​the cover 20 (see Figure 3A ), see Figure 8A-8B and Figure 9A-9B After receiving the touch signal, the linear motor 42 drives the screw rod 41 to rotate, thereby driving the cover plate 20 to move downward from the closed position, gradually exposing the cavity H for accommodating the side wall 30 (see Figure 3B ). When the cover plate 20 reaches the open position, the stop sensor 62 on the lower housing 12 senses the cover plate 20 and sends a signal to close the linear motor 42. At the same time, the stop sensor 62 also sends a signal to the rotary motor 45. Then, the rotary motor 45 drives the gear 43 and the turntable 44 to rotate in turn. In response to the rotation of the turntable 44, as shown in FIG. Figure 10A-10B As shown, the pins 33 of the four side walls 30 move from one end of the track groove 442 of the rotating disk 44 to the other end, that is, the side walls 30 move from the separated position to the closed position to form a closed cavity R (see Figure 3C ). When the side wall 30 moves to the closed position, the stop sensor 63 senses the side wall 30 and sends a signal to turn off the rotating motor 45. At this time, the cup BO is placed (see Figure 3D ), the claws 34 on the side wall 30 exert a clamping force on the cup BO under the action of the torsion spring 36, thereby preventing the cup BO from tipping over.

[0055] On the contrary, when the user takes away the cup BO, the infrared sensor 61 senses that the cup BO is taken away and sends a signal to the rotary motor 45. The rotary motor 45 drives the gear 43 and the turntable 44 to rotate in the opposite direction in turn, and the four side walls 30 move from the closed position to the separated position. When the side wall 30 moves to the separated position, the stop sensor 63 senses the side wall 30 and sends a signal to turn off the rotary motor 45. At the same time, the stop sensor 63 also sends a signal to the linear motor 42, and the linear motor 42 drives the screw rod 41 to rotate in the opposite direction, and the cover plate 20 moves from the open position to the closed position. When the cover plate 20 moves to the closed position, the stop sensor 62 senses the cover plate 20 and sends a signal to turn off the linear motor 42.

[0056] like Fig.11 As shown, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a cup holder assembly for accommodating and clamping a cup includes a folding and lifting mechanism 70 for driving the cover plate 20', which is used to replace the lead screw 41 and the linear motor 42 in the previous embodiment, so that the space can be better utilized, that is, under the premise that the longitudinal space of the overall mechanism is certain, the lateral space can be minimized and the cup holder accommodating space can be maximized.

[0057] like Figure 12A-Figure 13B As shown, the folding lifting mechanism 70 includes a flat gear 701, three connecting rod groups arranged above the flat gear 701, and a balance plate 702 respectively connected to the connecting rod groups. When the side wall 30' is in the separated position, the connecting rod group is located on the inner side of the side wall 30'; when the side wall 30' is in the closed position, the connecting rod group is located below the side wall 30'. The upper surface of the flat gear 701 has teeth 7011 arranged in a spiral shape. The three connecting rod groups pass through the balance plate 702. Each connecting rod group includes two short connecting rods 703 and at least one long connecting rod 704 connected between the two short connecting rods 703. The lower short connecting rod 703 is meshed with the teeth 7011 through the cylindrical gear 705, and the upper short connecting rod 703 is connected to the cover plate 20'. The length of the long connecting rod 704 is designed to be twice the length of the short connecting rod 703. The middle positions of the long connecting rods 704 in the three connecting rod groups are connected to the balance plate 702 to ensure that the cover plate 20' moves smoothly between the closed position and the open position. A transmission gear 706 is arranged on the bottom surface of the flat gear 701, and the transmission gear 706 is driven by a rotating motor (not shown), which in turn drives the flat gear 701 to rotate, and then drives the connecting rod group to move between the folded state and the unfolded state through the engagement of the cylindrical gear 705 and the tooth 7011, thereby realizing the movement of the cover plate 20' between the closed position and the open position.

[0058] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The above embodiment of the present invention can also be modified in various ways. That is, all simple, equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and the description of the present invention fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention. The contents not described in detail in the present invention are all conventional technical contents.

Claims

1. A cup holder assembly for accommodating and clamping a cup, characterized in that: The cup holder assembly includes: case; a plurality of side walls configured to move relative to the housing between a separated position and a closed position; A cover plate, arranged to move relative to the housing between a closed position covering the side wall and an open position completely exposing the side wall; The invention relates to a mechanism, which is configured to enable the cover to move downward from the closed position to the open position, and after the cover reaches the open position, enable the side wall to move from the separated position to the closed position to form a circumferentially closed cavity for accommodating a cup, wherein at least a portion of the covering surface of the cover passes over the cross section of the cavity.

2. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the cover is located at the open position, the cover is lower than the bottom surface of the side wall.

3. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the side walls are at the separation position, two adjacent side walls are separated from each other to avoid the cover plate, so as to facilitate the cover plate to move between the closed position and the open position.

4. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the side walls are in the closed position, two adjacent side walls abut against each other to form the cavity.

5. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each side wall comprises a front wall and a rear arm connected to the front wall, wherein the rear arm is rotatably connected to the housing to ensure that when the side walls are located in the closed position, the front walls of two adjacent side walls abut against each other to form the concave cavity.

6. The cup holder assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that: The mechanism includes a screw that drives the cover to move between the closed position and the open position.

7. The cup holder assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: When the side walls are located at the separated position, the screw rod is located between the front walls of two adjacent side walls; when the side walls are located at the closed position, the screw rod is located outside the concave cavity.

8. The cup holder assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The junction of the rear arm and the front wall forms a corner to avoid the lead screw when the side wall is in the closed position.

9. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mechanism includes a folding and lifting mechanism that drives the cover plate to move between the closed position and the open position. When the side wall is located at the separated position, the folding and lifting mechanism is stretched and located on the inner side of the side wall; when the side wall is located at the closed position, the folding and lifting mechanism is folded and located below the side wall.

10. The cup holder assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that: The folding lifting mechanism comprises at least two connecting rod groups, each connecting rod group comprises two short connecting rods and at least one long connecting rod connected between the two short connecting rods.

11. The cup holder assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that: The length of the long connecting rod is twice the length of the short connecting rod; the folding and lifting mechanism also includes a balance plate, which is connected to the middle position of the long connecting rod to ensure the smooth movement of the cover plate.

12. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side wall has a pin shaft, and the mechanism includes a turntable provided with a plurality of track grooves. The pin shaft cooperates with the track grooves so that the pin shaft moves along the track grooves in response to the rotation of the turntable to drive the movement of the side wall.

13. The cup holder assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that: The track groove is designed to limit the side wall from driving the turntable to rotate under the action of an external force when the side wall is located at the closed position.

14. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side wall also has a claw connected to the side wall in a deflectable manner to clamp cups of different sizes placed in the cavity.

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