Motor vehicle cup holder

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage holder (1) for a motor vehicle. The beverage holder (1) comprises a rotatable base (2) with a support surface (8) for a beverage container (10) and at least two fixing devices (16) for holding the beverage container (10) placed on the support surface (8). Furthermore, a coupling device (28) is provided between the rotatable base (2) and the respective fixing device (16), by which the rotational movement of the rotatable base (2) can be converted into a fixing movement or a release movement of the fixing device (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cup holder of a motor vehicle.

[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] Furthermore, DE 10 2020 005 568 A1 discloses a beverage container device for a vehicle, in which a groove is formed in the base region of a beverage container for receiving holding segments of a holding device for the beverage container. Furthermore, a rotatably mounted base element of the holding device is provided, on which the beverage container can be positioned. An adjusting mechanism of the holding device couples the rotatably mounted base element to the holding segments in such a way that, upon a rotational movement of the beverage container positioned on the base element, the holding segments of the holding device engage the groove of the beverage container.

[0006] Finally, DE 10 2008 047 479 A1 discloses a cup holder for a motor vehicle, which has a support plate rotatably arranged at the bottom of a cup holder compartment, allowing the cup holder to be rotated into a designated position. In the use position, the cup holder is designed to hold a beverage container; in the non-use position, the cup holder can be positioned in the corner of the compartment to save space.

[0007] The generic document DE 10 2020 005 568 A1 relates to a beverage container device for a vehicle, comprising: a beverage container, and a holding device for receiving the beverage container, comprising a groove in a base region of the beverage container, holding segments of the holding device engageable into the groove, a rotatably mounted base element of the holding device, on which the beverage container can be positioned, wherein an adjusting mechanism of the holding device couples the rotatably mounted base element to the holding segments such that upon a rotational movement of the beverage container positioned on the base element, the holding segments of the holding device engage into the groove of the beverage container. The invention further relates to a method.

[0008] The invention is based on the object of specifying a cup holder of a motor vehicle in which a secure accommodation of drinking vessels of different dimensions and shapes is possible in a simple manner with advantageous properties.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by a cup holder of a motor vehicle having the features recited in patent claim 1.

[0010] Advantageous further developments of the cup holder according to the invention are part of the further patent claims.

[0011] In the cup holder according to the invention in a motor vehicle, a rotatable base part with a preferably circular geometry is arranged in the base area of ​​the cup holder with a support surface for a beverage container. The rotatable base part is connected to at least two fixing devices via a coupling device, whereby the rotational movement of the rotatable base part is converted by means of the coupling device into a fixing movement or holding movement of the fixing devices, which are preferably arranged largely in the housing wall of the cup holder.

[0012] The rotational movement of the rotating base part can be activated via the sensor signal of a sensor or the switching signal of a switch.

[0013] The activation of the rotating mechanism of the rotatable base part for fixing the beverage container inserted into a receiving opening of the cup holder onto the support surface can be carried out by an operator in a manual mode by inserting the beverage container onto the support surface of the rotatable base part of the cup holder and moving the beverage container or drinking vessel, for example by inserting and moving a cup or a bottle as a beverage container onto the support surface of the rotatable base part of the cup holder.

[0014] Alternatively, the activation of the rotating mechanism of the rotating base part of the cup holder can also be automated when the beverage container is placed on the support surface of the rotating base part of the cup holder, for example by the resulting actuation of an operating element designed as a button or switch.

[0015] In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the coupling device of the cup holder has a gear mechanism with gear wheels, by means of which the rotational movement of the rotatable base part is converted into a horizontal fixing movement of the fixing devices.

[0016] In a second preferred embodiment of the invention which is an alternative to this, the coupling device of the cup holder has a transmission mechanism driven by a spindle with a cage having rod-shaped arms, by means of which the rotational movement of the rotatable base part is converted into a horizontal fixing movement of the fixing devices via a vertical movement of the transmission mechanism.

[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 two preferred embodiments 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 first preferred embodiment of the cup holder according to the invention. Fig. 2 A second preferred alternative embodiment of the cup holder according to the invention without a beverage container. Fig. 3 The second preferred alternative embodiment of the cup holder according to the invention with inserted and fixed beverage container.

[0021] According to the schematic sectional view in the Fig. 1, the cup holder 1, which is arranged for example in the center console of a motor vehicle or in an armrest of a motor vehicle, has in a first embodiment a rotatable base part 2 which is firmly connected on its underside 3 to a vertically arranged axis of rotation 4, so that this axis of rotation 4 can rotate when the rotatable base part 2 is rotated.

[0022] Below the housing base 5 of the cup holder 1 there is a gear wheel 6 which is coupled to the rotation axis 4 and is firmly connected to the rotation axis 4, for example by form-fitting.

[0023] On its upper side 7, the rotatable base part 2 has a support surface 8 with a high frictional engagement with a beverage container 10 inserted into the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1 and resting on the rotatable base part 2 or on the support surface 8, for example a rubberized surface or the like as a support surface 8. This ensures that when the beverage container 10 inserted into the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1 and resting on the support surface 8 is rotated, the rotatable base part 2 of the beverage holder 1 also rotates.

[0024] The gear 6 of the coupling device 28, located beneath the housing base 5 of the cup holder 1 and coupled to the rotatable base part 2 via the rotation axis 4, has a plurality of spherical recesses circumferentially on its underside 11. At least one small, spring-loaded locking ball 12 located underneath can engage in these spherical recesses, so that this locking device defines a plurality of finely graduated locking positions of the rotatable base part 2.

[0025] Adjacent to the gear 6 are several additional (smaller) gears 13 of the coupling device 28, which are driven by the gear 6 and are designed to be smaller than the gear 6 to achieve a suitable transmission ratio. For example, three additional (smaller) gears 13 are provided, which are arranged spaced apart from one another, for example equidistantly at an angular distance of 120°, radially circumferentially on the gear 6.

[0026] On the respective axis of rotation 14 of these additional gears 13, at approximately mid-height of the cup holder 1, a cam 15 of the coupling device 28 is provided, which is firmly connected to the axis of rotation 14 of the additional gears 13. These cams 15 each control a spring-loaded fixing device 16 arranged in the housing wall 30 of the cup holder 1 and on the housing wall 30 of the cup holder 1, which acts on the inner wall 17 of the cup holder 1 or its receiving opening 9. Thus, a number of cams 15 and thus also of fixing devices 16 corresponding to the number of additional gears 13 are provided.

[0027] The respective fixing devices 16 have a surface coating, for example, rubberized, on the contact surface 18 of the fixing element 27 facing the inner wall 17 of the cup holder 1 or its receiving opening 9. The fixing element 27 is connected to the respective cam 15 via a three-dimensional bearing element 19, made, for example, of a flexible plastic, and a plunger 20 arranged in the housing wall 30 of the cup holder 1 and equipped with a return spring 21. This connection is connected to the coupling device 28 comprising the cam 15, the additional gears 13, and the gear 6, as well as to the rotating mechanism with the rotatable base part 2 of the cup holder 1.

[0028] When inserting a beverage container 10 into the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1 and placing the beverage container 10 on the support surface 8 of the rotatable base part 2 of the beverage holder 1, the described coupling device 28 and the fixing device 16 are also set in motion when the beverage container 10 placed on the support surface 8 of the rotatable base part 2 of the beverage holder 1 is rotated (for example by rotating the beverage container 10 clockwise), so that the fixing devices 16 move simultaneously in the direction of the inserted beverage container 10 via the coupling device 28 by means of the cams 15 driven by the gear 6 and the further gears 13 and then fix this beverage container 10 in the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1 by means of the fixing elements 27 of the fixing devices 16.At the same time, the described locking device prevents the cams 15 and thus also the fixing devices 16 from turning back by means of the ball locking of the locking balls 12 on the gear wheel 6. The beverage container 10, for example a cup or a beverage bottle, inserted into the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1 and placed on the support surface 8 of the rotatable base part 2, is now fixed circumferentially at three points on its surface at an angular distance of 120° thanks to the provision of three fixing devices 16. This allows even beverage containers 10 with unusual geometries and shapes, such as bevels on the outside of the beverage container 10, to be clearly and securely fixed in the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1 by a simple rotating movement of the beverage container 10.By rotating the beverage container 10 inserted into the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1 and placed on the support surface 8 of the rotatable base part 2 in the opposite direction (for example, by rotating the beverage container 10 counterclockwise), the locking effect caused by the locking device with the locking balls 12 is canceled. Accordingly, the fixation of the beverage container 10 in the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1 caused by the fixing elements 27 of the fixing devices 16 is also released, and the beverage container 10 can be removed from the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1.

[0029] According to the two schematic sectional views in the Fig. 2 (without beverage container 10 in the receiving opening 9 of the cup holder 1) and the Fig. 3 (with the beverage container 10 inserted and fixed into the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1), the coupling device 28 of the beverage holder 1 has, in a further embodiment, a spindle 22 below the rotatable base part 2, which spindle 22 instead of the gear 6 of the coupling device 28 in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 is provided. On this spindle 22 there is a guide element 23 with a thread geometry corresponding to the spindle 22, so that this guide element 23 executes a movement in the vertical direction (z-direction) upwards or downwards when the rotatable base part 2 rotates. A cage 24 with vertically upwardly directed rod-shaped arms 25 is coupled to this guide element 23, at the free ends of which a roller 29 is arranged. Preferably, the cage 24 has three rod-shaped arms 25 arranged at an angular distance of 120° from one another, with corresponding rollers 29 at the free end.

[0030] When the guide element 23 moves upwards or downwards in the vertical direction (z-direction), the rod-shaped arms 25 move synchronously with the guide element 23, also upwards or downwards in the vertical direction (z-direction). The rod-shaped arms 25 are in the embodiment for Fig. 1, for example, coupled to three fixing devices 16 arranged at an angular distance of 120° from one another.

[0031] These fixing devices 16 are analogous to the embodiment in Fig. 1, in particular with a contact surface 18 facing the inner wall 17 of the cup holder 1 or its receiving opening 9, with a rubberized surface coating, for example, with a three-dimensional bearing element 19 consisting of a flexible plastic, for example, and a plunger 20 equipped with a return spring 21. Connected to the coupling device 28 of the cup holder 1, the fixing devices 16 in this embodiment of the Fig. 2 and the Fig. 3 via the contour elements 26 having bevelled contours (instead of the cams 15 according to Fig. 1), which are connected to the rod-shaped arms 25 of the cage 24 or to the rollers 29 and thus transmit the rotational movement of the rotatable base part 2 of the cup holder 1 into a horizontal movement of the fixing devices 16.

[0032] Consequently, when the rotatable base part 2 is rotated, the fixing devices 16 with the fixing elements 27 are simultaneously displaced in the horizontal direction, whereby, as shown in particular in the Fig. 3, the beverage container 10 inserted into the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1 and placed on the support surface 8 of the rotatable base part 2 is secured. For example, this can be used to secure a cup placed on the support surface 8 of the rotatable base part 2 or a beverage bottle placed on the support surface 8 of the rotatable base part 2.

[0033] This embodiment of the cup holder 1 according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 can be realized with a compact design, in addition, due to the design-related self-locking in this embodiment of the cup holder 1 according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 no separate locking device required.

[0034] The activation of the rotation mechanism and the fixing mechanism of the cup holder 1, i.e. the activation of the rotational movement of the rotatable base part 2 of the cup holder 1 and the fixing movement of the fixing device 16 of the cup holder 1, can also be carried out automatically when inserting the beverage container 10 into the receiving opening 9 of the cup holder 1 and / or when placing the beverage container 10 onto the supporting surface 8 in the base area of ​​the cup holder 1, instead of manually rotating the beverage container 10 inserted into the receiving opening 9 of the cup holder 1 and placed on the supporting surface 8 of the rotatable base part 2 of the cup holder 1.For this purpose, at least one sensor or switching element is provided, by which a sensor signal or switching signal is generated when the beverage container 10 is inserted into the receiving opening 9 of the beverage holder 1 and / or when the beverage container 10 is placed on the support surface 8 of the rotatable base part 2 in the base area of ​​the beverage holder 1. This sensor signal or switching signal is evaluated by a control unit and then activated by this control unit according to the rotation mechanism and fixing mechanism of the beverage holder 1, i.e. the activation of the rotational movement of the rotatable base part 2 of the beverage holder 1 and the fixing movement of the fixing device 16 of the beverage holder 1.For this purpose, for example, a microswitch mounted beneath the rotatable base part 2 of the cup holder 1 can be provided, which microswitch responds when the beverage container 10 is placed on the rotatable base part 2 of the cup holder 1 or on the support surface 8 of the rotatable base part 2 of the cup holder 1. Alternatively, proximity sensors or capacitive sensors or even appropriately designed light barrier arrangements can detect the insertion of a beverage container 10 into the receiving opening 9 of the cup holder 1 or the placement of the beverage container 10 on the support surface 8 of the rotatable base part 2 of the cup holder 1.

[0035] The rotational movement itself can also be automated and performed by an electric motor, in particular by a dedicated electric motor with limit switches. Likewise, the removal process of the beverage container 10 from the receiving opening 9 of the cup holder 1 can also be automated, for example, by a measure opposite to the insertion process of the beverage container 10 into the receiving opening 9 of the cup holder 1 or by a second measure similar to that for activating the rotation mechanism and the locking mechanism of the cup holder 1, for example, by pressing the microswitch again.

Claims

[1] A beverage holder (1) of a motor vehicle, wherein the beverage holder (1) has a rotatable base part (2) with a support surface (8) for a beverage container (10) and at least two fixing devices (16) for holding the beverage container (10) placed on the support surface (8), and wherein a coupling device (28) is provided between the rotatable base part (2) and the respective fixing device (16), by means of which the rotational movement of the rotatable base part (2) can be converted into a fixing movement or into a release movement of the fixing device (16), characterized by that the rotational movement of the rotatable base part (2) can be activated via the sensor signal of a sensor or the switching signal of a switch. [2] Cup holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the support surface (8) is made of a material which creates a frictional connection with the beverage container (10). [3] Cup holder (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat at least three fixing devices (16) are provided which are arranged equidistantly in the housing wall (30) of the cup holder (1) and / or on the housing wall (30) of the cup holder (1). [4] Cup holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the respective fixing device (16) has a fixing element (27) with a contact surface (18) which can be actuated via a plunger (20). [5] Cup holder (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the plunger (20) can be actuated via a spring element (21) and is connected to the fixing element (27) via a bearing element (19). [6] Cup holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the coupling device (28) has a gear mechanism with a gear wheel (6) coupled to the rotatable base part (2) and with a plurality of further gear wheels (13) coupled to the gear wheel (6) and each connected to one of the fixing devices (16). [7] Cup holder (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that a locking device (12) is provided for fixing locking positions assumed by the rotatable base part (2). [8] Cup holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the coupling device (28) has a spindle (22) and a cage (24) driven by the spindle (22) with a plurality of vertical rod-shaped arms (25), each connected to one of the fixing devices (16). [9] 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.

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