Motor vehicle cup holder

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage holder (1) of a motor vehicle, with retaining elements (4) for fixing beverage containers (6) in the beverage holder (1). It is provided that a plurality of retaining cams (4) designed as permanent magnets with the same magnetic pole arrangement are provided as retaining elements, which are arranged one above the other and spaced apart from each other in at least two retaining areas (7) in the wall (2) of the drink holder (1) and projecting from the wall (2) of the drink holder (1): In the outer area (8) of the drink holder (1) an electromagnet (5) corresponding to the retaining cams (4) designed as permanent magnets of the respective retaining area (7) is arranged for each retaining area (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cup holder of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Cup holders are designed in motor vehicles to hold drinking vessels or beverage containers such as beverage bottles, cups, or the like. They are used in a variety of designs and configurations in the interior of the vehicle. For this purpose, design variants realized by forming recesses in the center consoles or armrests of the vehicle, or by folding or folding mechanisms, are particularly common.

[0003] In addition, springs, elastic bands or similar aids can be provided to fix a beverage container or drinking vessel inserted in the cup holder or cup holder.

[0004] For example, DE 10 2005 003 078 B4 describes a cup holder for motor vehicles which has a cylindrical adapter part for holding a drinking vessel, on the inside of which several elastic paraboloid-shaped holding elements made of plastic are arranged in a radial orientation.

[0005] US 5,704,579 A relates to a holder for a beverage container, comprising a container support platform with a central axis and a series of container contact elements arranged around the central axis for exerting positioning forces on side surfaces of the container. Each container contact element contains a liquid core material that transitions to a near-solid state under the action of a magnetic field. Magnetic mechanisms are provided in the holder to generate one or more magnetic fields, resulting in the container contact elements being stiffened to accommodate a range of different container sizes and shapes. The magnetic mechanisms can be electromagnets or permanent magnets.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of specifying a cup holder of a motor vehicle in which a secure accommodation of drinking vessels or beverage containers in different dimensions and designs is possible in a simple manner with advantageous properties.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention by a cup holder of a motor vehicle having the features recited in patent claim 1.

[0008] Advantageous further developments of the cup holder according to the invention are part of the further patent claims.

[0009] In the cup holder of a motor vehicle according to the invention, holding elements are provided for fixing beverage containers or drinking vessels in the cup holder, which holding elements are formed from holding cams consisting of permanent magnets with the same magnetic pole arrangement. Preferably, the holding cams designed as permanent magnets consist of a magnetizable plastic material, in particular of magnetizable polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).

[0010] In at least two holding areas formed in the cup holder, the holding cams formed as permanent magnets are arranged one above the other in the wall of the cup holder at a distance from one another and projecting from the wall of the cup holder, preferably arranged in the form of a contour gauge projecting from the wall of the cup holder.

[0011] Outside the cup holder, i.e. in the outer area of ​​the cup holder, for each holding area with holding cams designed as permanent magnets, an electromagnet corresponding to the permanent magnets of the respective holding area is arranged adjacent to the respective holding area with the holding cams designed as permanent magnets. Preferably, the electromagnets are arranged equidistantly from one another in the outer region of the cup holder, analogous to the holding regions with the holding cams designed as permanent magnets, in particular arranged radially in the outer region of the cup holder equidistantly around the cup holder and adjacent to the holding regions.

[0012] The electromagnets are designed to be switchable to change their polarity and thus their magnetic field orientation and can therefore, depending on the switching state, either have a magnetic orientation in the same direction as the holding cams designed as permanent magnets in a corresponding holding area and therefore develop a repulsive effect or have an opposite magnetic orientation to the holding cams designed as permanent magnets in a corresponding holding area and therefore develop an attractive effect.

[0013] In the switching state with a magnetic orientation in the same direction combined with a repulsive effect, the beverage container or drinking vessel located in the cup holder is consequently fixed in the cup holder by the holding cams moving in the direction of the beverage container or drinking vessel in the cup holder.

[0014] In the switching state with an opposite magnetic orientation combined with an attractive effect, the holding cams are moved away from the beverage container or drinking vessel located in the cup holder, which can then be removed from the cup holder.

[0015] To vary the switching state of the electromagnets and thus their magnetic orientation, an operating element can be provided, for example an operating element designed as a push-button switch, toggle switch or rotary switch, which can be actuated in particular by an occupant of the motor vehicle.

[0016] The cup holder can be arranged in a position in the motor vehicle that is suitable for this purpose and is easily accessible and reachable for an operator, in particular in the centre console of the motor vehicle or in an armrest of the motor vehicle.

[0017] The cup holder according to the invention presented advantageously enables simple and secure holding and fixing of different beverage containers or drinking vessels in the cup holder, in particular also beverage containers or drinking vessels with different sizes and shapes.

[0018] As a result, the cup holder according to the invention can be used flexibly and cost-effectively at different installation locations in the motor vehicle,

[0019] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing(s). The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0020] Showing: Fig. 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a cup holder. Fig. 2 A schematic top view of the cup holder.

[0021] In the Fig. 1 it can be seen that the cup holder 1 installed in a motor vehicle, for example in the center console, has in its wall 2 in a holding area 7 a plurality of holding cams 4 arranged one above the other.

[0022] These holding cams 4 consist, for example, of a magnetizable plastic material, such as magnetizable polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and are thus designed as permanent magnets with the same magnetic orientation.

[0023] For example, in a holding area 7, between five and ten such holding cams 4 are arranged one above the other as permanent magnets in the form of a contour gauge, which protrude from the wall 2 of the cup holder 1 both on the inside 9 of the cup holder 1 and on the outside 10 of the cup holder 1.

[0024] As can be seen in particular from the Fig. 2, in the wall 2 of the cup holder 1, for example, four holding areas 7 arranged equidistant from one another, each with a plurality of holding cams 4 as permanent magnets, are formed.

[0025] At a distance from the cup holder 1, a corresponding electromagnet 5 is arranged in the outer region 8 of the cup holder 1 for each of the holding areas 7, each with a plurality of holding cams 4 as permanent magnets.

[0026] For example, if four holding areas 7 are arranged equidistant from one another, four corresponding electromagnets 5 are provided.

[0027] These switchable electromagnets 5 can change their polarity depending on the switching state and thus either, as in Fig. 1 and Fig.2, when magnetically oriented in the same direction as the holding cams 4 designed as permanent magnets, they exert a repulsive effect on these holding cams 4, whereby the holding cams 4 are moved in the direction of the inner region 3 of the cup holder 1 and consequently securely fix the beverage container 6 located in the cup holder 1.

[0028] Or the electromagnets 5 can exert an attractive effect on the holding cams 4, which are designed as permanent magnets, when magnetically oriented in the opposite direction to these holding cams 4, whereby the holding cams 4 are moved in the direction of the outer area 8 of the cup holder 1 and consequently release the beverage container 6 located in the cup holder 1 for removal.

[0029] The switching state of the switchable electromagnets 5 can be changed via an operating element located near the cup holder 1, which for this purpose is designed in particular as a push-button switch with two switching states and push-push operation, or as a rocker switch with two switching states, or as a rotary switch with two switching states.

Claims

[1] Cup holder (1) of a motor vehicle, with holding elements (4) for fixing beverage containers (6) in the cup holder (1), characterized by , that a plurality of holding cams (4) designed as permanent magnets with the same magnetic pole arrangement are provided as holding elements, which are arranged one above the other and spaced apart from each other in the wall (2) of the cup holder (1) and projecting from the wall (2) of the cup holder (1) in at least two holding areas (7), and that in the outer region (8) of the cup holder (1) for each holding area (7) there is arranged an electromagnet (5) corresponding to the holding cams (4) of the respective holding area (7) designed as permanent magnets. [2] Cup holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the holding cams (4) designed as permanent magnets consist of a magnetizable plastic material. [3] Cup holder (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the holding cams (4) designed as permanent magnets consist of magnetizable polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). [4] Cup holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that an operating element is provided for switching the electromagnets (5). [5] Cup holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the holding cams (4) designed as permanent magnets are arranged in the form of a contour gauge in the wall (2) of the cup holder (1) and protruding from the wall (2) of the cup holder (1). [6] Cup holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the electromagnets (5) are arranged equidistantly from one another in the outer region (8) of the cup holder (1). [7] Cup holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the electromagnets (5) are arranged radially in the outer region (8) of the cup holder (1) around the cup holder (1). [8] Cup holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the cup holder (1) is arranged in the center console of the motor vehicle or in an armrest of the motor vehicle.

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