Vehicle cup holder that adapts to cup shape

Abstract

The application discloses a vehicle-mounted cup holder capable of self-adapting to the shape of a cup. The cup holder comprises a cup holder body, a plurality of installation openings arranged on a plurality of surfaces of the cup holder body in different directions, a plurality of flexible clamping assemblies movably arranged on the installation openings, a control matrix assembly arranged on a surrounding support outside the cup holder body and used for independently controlling the flexible clamping assemblies, and a plurality of sensing assemblies arranged on the installation openings and used for scanning the shape of the cup placed in the cup holder body and associating with the control matrix assembly to adjust the length of the flexible clamping assemblies in different positions to move into the cup holder body, so as to complete self-adapting to the irregular surface of the cup. The cup holder can actively sense the shape of the cup through the sensing assemblies and independently control the flexible clamping assemblies through the control matrix assembly, can realize comprehensive adhesion and stable clamping of various regular and irregular cups, and has the advantages of stable clamping, strong adaptability, convenient operation and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive interior accessories technology, specifically a car cup holder with an adaptive cup shape. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of the automotive industry, consumers are increasingly demanding higher levels of comfort in their vehicles. As an important functional component of the car interior, the user experience of in-car cup holders directly affects the convenience and satisfaction of drivers and passengers.

[0003] Currently, most car cup holders on the market use a fixed-size cup holder structure, where cups and other containers are placed directly into the groove. This type of structure has significant limitations: it cannot accommodate containers of different diameters; small cups are not securely held and are prone to wobbling or even tipping over while the vehicle is in motion; large cups cannot be placed in the holder. To address this issue, some cup holder products have incorporated a separate clamping structure, but these solutions either have protruding structures that affect the appearance, or the range of container sizes they can hold is too small. Some even require manual operation of the clamping structure to keep the contents of the cup holder firmly in place, significantly reducing user comfort.

[0004] Furthermore, while some existing adaptive cup holders can accommodate cups of different sizes to some extent, their clamping methods are mostly based on passive adaptation using elastic elements, lacking the ability to actively sense and precisely control the cup's shape. For the increasingly diverse irregularly shaped cups on the market—such as asymmetrical designs, curved contours, and shapes that are wider at the top than the bottom—the clamping effect of existing cup holders is often less than ideal, failing to achieve a complete fit and stable clamping of the cup's irregular surface.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to design a car cup holder that can actively sense the shape of the cup and intelligently adjust the clamping method according to different cup shapes, so as to achieve adaptive clamping of various regular and irregular cups and improve the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to address the technical problems of existing car cup holders, such as difficulty in adapting to cups of different shapes, unstable clamping, and lack of active sensing and intelligent adjustment capabilities, by providing a car cup holder that adapts to the shape of the cup. This cup holder can scan the shape of the cup placed in the holder and automatically adjust the extension and retraction position of the clamping components to achieve adaptive clamping of various irregularly shaped cups.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a car cup holder that adapts to the shape of a cup, comprising:

[0008] The cup holder body has a receiving groove for placing and positioning cups, and several mounting openings are provided on several surfaces facing different directions.

[0009] Several flexible clamping components are movably mounted on the corresponding mounting ports;

[0010] A control matrix component, which is mounted on the outer side of the cup holder body, is used to independently control the movement of the flexible clamping component;

[0011] Several sensing components are disposed on the mounting port for scanning the shape of the cup placed in the receiving slot and are associated with the control matrix component to adjust the length of the flexible clamping component moving into the receiving slot at different positions, thereby completing the adaptive abutment clamping of the cup's irregular surface.

[0012] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0013] The flexible clamping assembly includes a telescopic rod and an abutment block. The telescopic rod slides through the mounting opening, with one end extending into the receiving groove and engaging with the abutment block.

[0014] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0015] The surface of the abutment block is provided with a flexible block.

[0016] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0017] The abutment block connects to the ball shaft, and the ball shaft is omnidirectionally rotatable and embedded in the spherical groove of the telescopic rod.

[0018] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0019] The telescopic rod is provided with a limiting flange that fits with the surface of the cup holder body and limits its travel. A stop is provided at the other end of the telescopic rod. An elastic element is sleeved on the telescopic rod, with its two ends abutting against the surface of the cup holder body and the stop, respectively.

[0020] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0021] The control matrix component includes several drive modules, each drive module including a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. The permanent magnet is located at the outer end of the flexible clamping component, and the electromagnet is located on the enclosure bracket and associated with its wires and external control panel switches, and is magnetically connected to the permanent magnet.

[0022] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0023] A magnetic isolation cover is installed between the cup holder body and the enclosure support.

[0024] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0025] The magnetic isolation cover corresponds one-to-one with the drive module, covering the corresponding drive module and the outer end of the flexible clamping component.

[0026] In summary, due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0027] This invention uses a sensing component to scan the shape of a cup placed in the receiving slot and associates it with a control matrix component. This allows for the active perception of the cup's specific shape and contour, enabling independent and precise control of each flexible clamping component. Multiple flexible clamping components can extend and retract independently under the control of the control matrix component, adjusting the clamping depth according to the required position. This perfectly conforms to the surfaces of various irregularly shaped cups, forming multi-point support and achieving comprehensive contact and clamping of the cup's irregular surface. An electromagnetic drive method using a combination of permanent magnets and electromagnets allows for precise adjustment of the electromagnet's current via a control panel, controlling the clamping force to ensure clamping stability while preventing damage to the cup due to excessive force. A flexible block is provided on the abutment surface and is embedded in the spherical groove of the telescopic rod via a ball joint, allowing the abutment block to automatically adjust its angle according to the local curvature of the cup surface, achieving a flexible fit and preventing scratches. A limiting flange engages with the cup holder body surface to limit the stroke, and an elastic element provides a restoring force, ensuring that the flexible clamping components automatically reset when not driven, facilitating the insertion and removal of cups. The magnetic isolation enclosure effectively avoids electromagnetic interference between the various drive modules, ensuring that each electromagnet in the control matrix component works independently without interfering with each other, thus improving the accuracy and reliability of control. Attached Figure Description

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cup holder body and the surrounding bracket in a vehicle cup holder that adapts to the shape of a cup.

[0030] Figure 2 This is a partial structural diagram of a car cup holder that adapts to the shape of a cup.

[0031] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a partial usage diagram of a car cup holder that adapts to the shape of a cup.

[0033] Legend:

[0034] 1-Cup holder body; 2-Mounting port; 3-Flexible clamping assembly; 4-Control matrix assembly; 5-Enclosure bracket; 6-Sensing assembly; 7-Telescopic rod; 8-Abutting block; 9-Spherical shaft; 10-Spherical groove; 11-Limiting flange; 12-Stop block; 13-Elastic element; 14-Permanent magnet; 15-Electromagnet; 16-Magnetic isolation cover. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0036] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0037] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0038] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper" and "inner" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the product of the invention is usually placed when in use. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0039] In the description of this invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0040] Example 1:

[0041] Please see Figure 1-4 The present invention provides a technical solution: an adaptive cup shape vehicle cup holder, including a cup holder body 1, several flexible clamping components 3, a control matrix component 4, several sensing components 6, and a barrier bracket 5.

[0042] The cup holder body 1 has an internal receiving groove for placing and positioning cups. Several mounting holes 2 are provided on multiple surfaces of the cup holder body 1 facing different directions (such as different positions of the circumferential sidewalls). The mounting holes 2 penetrate the inner and outer walls of the cup holder body 1 and are used to install flexible clamping components 3 to achieve multi-point clamping of the cup in the circumferential direction.

[0043] The enclosure bracket 5 is set on the outside of the cup holder body 1, forming a certain installation space between it and the cup holder body 1, for accommodating the control matrix component 4.

[0044] The sensing component 6 is disposed on the mounting port 2, specifically on the inner edge of the mounting port 2 or embedded in the wall of the mounting port 2. The sensing component 6 can be an optical sensor (such as an infrared sensor), an ultrasonic sensor, or a pressure sensor, used to scan and detect the shape of the cup when it is placed in the receiving slot. The sensing component 6 transmits the detected cup shape data to the control unit (such as a microcontroller or single-chip microcomputer) of the vehicle's control panel.

[0045] The control matrix assembly 4 is mounted on the enclosure bracket 5 and contains several drive modules. The control matrix assembly 4 is electrically connected to the sensing assembly 6. The control panel receives the cup's shape data detected by the sensing assembly 6 and independently controls the control matrix assembly 4 based on this data, driving the movement of each flexible clamping assembly 3. Specifically, the control panel calculates the required insertion length of each flexible clamping assembly 3 into the receiving groove based on the cup's outline in different orientations and sends control commands to the corresponding drive modules.

[0046] Specifically, the flexible clamping assembly 3 includes a telescopic rod 7 and an abutment block 8. The telescopic rod 7 slides through the mounting opening 2, with one end (inner end) extending into the receiving groove and engaging with the abutment block 8, and the other end (outer end) extending into the mounting space outside the cup holder body 1. The cross-sectional shape of the telescopic rod 7 can be circular, square, or other shapes, preferably circular to facilitate sliding. The abutment block 8 is used to directly contact the surface of the cup body to achieve the clamping and positioning function.

[0047] A limiting flange 11 is provided on the telescopic rod 7. The limiting flange 11 is located on the inner or outer side of the cup holder body 1 and is used to cooperate with the surface of the cup holder body 1 to limit the sliding stroke of the telescopic rod 7, preventing the telescopic rod 7 from excessively extending into the receiving groove or dislodging from the mounting port 2. A stop block 12 is provided at the outer end of the telescopic rod 7, and an elastic element 13 is sleeved on the telescopic rod 7, located between the outer wall of the cup holder body 1 and the stop block 12. The two ends of the elastic element 13 abut against the outer surface of the cup holder body 1 and the stop block 12, respectively. The elastic element 13 is preferably a compression spring, which is used to provide a restoring force when the flexible clamping assembly 3 is not driven, so that the telescopic rod 7 drives the abutment block 8 to move away from the receiving groove, which facilitates the insertion and removal of the cup.

[0048] Specifically, the drive module of the control matrix assembly 4 includes a permanent magnet 14 and an electromagnet 15. The permanent magnet 14 is disposed at the outer end of the flexible clamping assembly 3, specifically on the outer surface of the stop block 12 or integrally formed with the stop block 12. The electromagnet 15 is disposed on the enclosure bracket 5, opposite to and magnetically connected to the permanent magnet 14. The electromagnet 15 is connected to an external control panel switch and power supply via wires. The control panel can be located near the driver's seat or on the outer wall of the cup holder body 1. When the switch is turned on, the control unit energizes the electromagnet 15. The electromagnet 15 and the permanent magnet 14, being of the same polarity, face each other, thereby forming a magnetic repulsion force, driving the telescopic rod 7 to slide. By manually or automatically adjusting the current of the electromagnet 15 through the control panel, the magnitude of the driving force can be precisely controlled, thereby controlling the clamping force.

[0049] Example 2:

[0050] Please see Figure 2-4 The figure shows a car cup holder with an adaptive cup shape provided in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Based on the above embodiments, the following technical solutions are further improved: a flexible block is provided on the surface of the abutment block 8. The flexible block can be made of rubber, silicone or other flexible materials to avoid scratching the surface of the cup. At the same time, it fits the surface of the cup more closely, increases friction, and improves clamping stability.

[0051] Example 3:

[0052] Please see Figure 2-4 The figure shows a vehicle cup holder with an adaptive cup shape provided in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Based on the above embodiments, this embodiment further improves upon the following technical solution: the abutment block 8 is connected to a ball joint 9, which is omnidirectionally embedded in the spherical groove 10 on the inner end face of the telescopic rod 7. Through this ball joint connection, the abutment block 8 can rotate omnidirectionally relative to the telescopic rod 7. Therefore, when contacting the cup surface, the abutment block 8 can automatically adjust its angle according to the local curvature of the cup surface, achieving surface contact rather than point contact with the cup surface, further improving the stability of the clamping and the protection of the cup.

[0053] Example 4:

[0054] Please see Figure 2-4 The figure shows an adaptive cup-shaped vehicle cup holder according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. This embodiment further improves upon the previous embodiments by providing the following technical solution: a magnetic isolation cover 16 is provided between the cup holder body 1 and the enclosure bracket 5. The magnetic isolation cover 16 is made of a magnetically conductive material (such as soft iron or permalloy) and is used to shield the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet 15, avoiding electromagnetic interference between the various drive modules. Preferably, the magnetic isolation cover 16 corresponds one-to-one with the drive module, with each magnetic isolation cover 16 covering the corresponding drive module and the outer end of the flexible clamping assembly 3, achieving independent magnetic isolation for each electromagnet 15, ensuring that each drive module works independently without interference, and improving the accuracy and reliability of control.

[0055] The working principle of the adaptive cup-shaped car cup holder in the above embodiment includes:

[0056] When the user places the cup into the receiving slot of the cup holder body 1, the user operates the switch on the control panel, and the sensing component 6 operates (or the sensing component 6 can automatically sense and trigger), scanning and detecting the shape of the cup. The sensing component 6 transmits the detected cup shape data to the control unit of the control panel.

[0057] Based on the received shape data, the control unit analyzes the shape profile of the cup in different positions and calculates the required extension amount of each flexible clamping component 3—that is, the length that each telescopic rod 7 needs to extend into the receiving groove, so that each abutment block 8 fits exactly against the surface of the cup.

[0058] Subsequently, the control unit sends control commands to each drive module to control the energizing current of each electromagnet 15. When energized, the electromagnet 15 generates a magnetic field, which interacts with the corresponding permanent magnet 14, driving the telescopic rod 7 to slide. Under the independent control of the control unit, each telescopic rod 7 extends into the receiving groove to different lengths, causing each abutment block 8 to abut against the cup surface from different directions. Since the extension and retraction of each abutment block 8 is calculated individually based on the cup's outline in that direction, the combined action of multiple abutment blocks 8 enables complete fit and stable clamping of the cup's irregular surface.

[0059] When the cup needs to be removed, the user issues an unlocking command through the control panel (such as operating the switch to the off state or the reverse power-on unlock state). The control unit controls each electromagnet 15 to be de-energized or reverse-energized, the magnetic force between the electromagnet 15 and the permanent magnet 14 disappears or reverses, and each telescopic rod 7 slides outward under the restoring force of the elastic element 13, and the abutment block 8 disengages from the surface of the cup, so the user can easily remove the cup.

[0060] For cups of different shapes, the sensing component 6 will re-scan the shape each time it is placed in the cup, and the control unit will recalculate the extension and retraction of each telescopic rod 7 accordingly, so as to achieve adaptive clamping for various regular and irregular shaped cups.

[0061] The adaptive cup holder of this invention features a rational structural design and a high degree of automation, making it widely applicable to cup holder designs in various automotive applications, such as the dashboard, door panels, and armrests. Its active sensing, intelligent adjustment, and multi-point independent clamping capabilities effectively solve the technical problem of existing automotive cup holders being unable to adapt to irregularly shaped cups, thus possessing broad market application prospects.

[0062] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A car cup holder that adapts to the shape of a cup, characterized in that, include: The cup holder body has a receiving groove for placing and positioning cups, and several mounting openings are provided on several surfaces facing different directions. Several flexible clamping components are movably mounted on the corresponding mounting ports; A control matrix component, which is mounted on the outer side of the cup holder body, is used to independently control the movement of the flexible clamping component; Several sensing components are disposed on the mounting port for scanning the shape of the cup placed in the receiving slot and are associated with the control matrix component to adjust the length of the flexible clamping component moving into the receiving slot at different positions, thereby completing the adaptive abutment clamping of the cup's irregular surface.

2. The adaptive cup shape car cup holder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible clamping assembly includes a telescopic rod and an abutment block. The telescopic rod slides through the mounting opening, with one end extending into the receiving groove and engaging with the abutment block.

3. A car cup holder with an adaptive cup shape according to claim 2, characterized in that, The surface of the abutment block is provided with a flexible block.

4. A car cup holder with an adaptive cup shape according to claim 2, characterized in that, The abutment block connects to the ball shaft, and the ball shaft is omnidirectionally rotatable and embedded in the spherical groove of the telescopic rod.

5. A car cup holder with an adaptive cup shape according to claim 2, characterized in that, The telescopic rod is provided with a limiting flange that fits with the surface of the cup holder body and limits its travel. A stop is provided at the other end of the telescopic rod. An elastic element is sleeved on the telescopic rod, with its two ends abutting against the surface of the cup holder body and the stop, respectively.

6. A car cup holder with an adaptive cup shape according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control matrix component includes several drive modules, each drive module including a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. The permanent magnet is located at the outer end of the flexible clamping component, and the electromagnet is located on the enclosure bracket and associated with its wires and external control panel switches, and is magnetically connected to the permanent magnet.

7. A car cup holder with an adaptive cup shape according to claim 6, characterized in that, A magnetic isolation cover is installed between the cup holder body and the enclosure support.

8. A car cup holder with an adaptive cup shape according to claim 7, characterized in that, The magnetic isolation cover corresponds one-to-one with the drive module, covering the corresponding drive module and the outer end of the flexible clamping component.

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