Vessel holder, console component with such a vessel holder, and motor vehicle with such a console component

Abstract

Vessel holder, comprising a housing-like receptacle into which a vessel can be inserted, and a lid which can be moved from a raised first position, in which it closes the top of the receptacle, into a lowered second position within the receptacle, in which it serves as a support surface for the vessel, wherein the lid is mounted on a support which can be moved with it between the first and the second position via an articulated connection which allows tilting of the lid relative to the support which is fixed in its spatial orientation.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vessel holder comprising a housing-like receptacle into which a vessel can be inserted, and a lid which can be moved from a raised first position, in which it closes the receptacle on the top, into a lowered second position within the receptacle, in which it serves as a support surface for the vessel, wherein the lid is mounted on a support which can be moved with it between the first and the second position via an articulated connection which allows tilting of the lid relative to the support which is fixed in its spatial orientation.

[0002] Such a container holder, as described in EP 4 238 820 B1, is provided, for example, in a motor vehicle to allow a person inside the vehicle to place a container, such as a cup or bottle, into the container holder while driving, where the container is secured against tipping over. Such a container holder is usually found on a center console located between two adjacent seats.

[0003] Such a vessel holder usually has a housing-like receptacle into which the vessel can be inserted. The housing-like receptacle can be designed as a cylindrical pot- or cup-shaped receptacle that is closed on the sides and bottom, or as a cylindrical receptacle that has openings on the sides and / or bottom. A lid is often also provided that closes the top of the receptacle when it is not in use, i.e. when no vessel is inserted. In addition to a pivoting arrangement of the lid, which is pivoted about its pivot bearing axis for opening and closing, it is also known to provide a vertically movable lid that can be moved from a raised first position, in which it closes the top of the receptacle, into a lowered second position within the receptacle, in which it serves as a support surface for the vessel.Such vessel holders are shown, for example, in DE 10 2007 048 969 A1 or DE 199 30 524 A1. To set up the vessel, it is placed on the lid which is in the first position and which is then moved downwards into the receptacle, for example due to weight or appropriate pressure, i.e. is lowered, until a second position is reached, i.e. the lowered, locked end position deep inside or at the bottom of the receptacle. The vessel stands on the lowered lid, which forms a support surface. In such a design with a vertically movable lid, the lid, in the raised first position, is flush with the laterally adjacent top side or surface of the component on which the vessel holder is arranged, i.e. for example the surface or top side of the center console.Since the lid serves as a support surface for the vessel in the lowered second position, it must be positioned horizontally in this position to prevent the vessel from tilting. However, this in turn means that the lid is also positioned horizontally in the raised first position, which in turn requires that the top or surface of the component, for example, the console, also runs horizontally in this area so that the lid can be integrated essentially flush with this surface or top. However, this limited the design freedom of the component, or surface or top, that accommodates the vessel holder.

[0004] The invention is based on the problem of providing a vessel holder which is improved compared to the above.

[0005] To solve the problem, in a vessel holder of the type mentioned at the outset, the invention provides that the lid is mounted so as to be movable relative to the carrier against the restoring force of at least one spring element.

[0006] According to the invention, the lid is not arranged in a fixed position with regard to its spatial position on a corresponding support, via which it can move vertically in the holder, but is mounted movably on this support, i.e. quasi "floating". Due to this movable mounting of the lid, there is no direct relationship between the installation position of the vessel holder and the surface or upper side of the component receiving the vessel holder. Rather, the lid, which moves upwards from the lowered, second position into the raised, first position, can orient itself more or less automatically and align itself with regard to its end position and thus the spatial position of the surface or upper side. On the other hand, when moving into the second position, the lid can be moved from its, for example, tilted, first position or spatial position into a horizontal position, which it assumes in the second position, so that it forms a horizontal support surface for the vessel in this second position.

[0007] The movable mounting of the lid on the support, which is fixed in its spatial orientation, via the corresponding articulated connection therefore allows an automatic change in the spatial position of the lid, which on the one hand enables an automatic orientation and adaptation to the spatial position of the top or surface into which the lid is to be integrated flush, and on the other hand allows a horizontal alignment of the lid in the lowered second position in order to provide an optimal horizontal support surface for the vessel.

[0008] Different variants are conceivable with regard to the specific design of the cover bearing or the articulated connection. According to a first alternative invention, the articulated connection can have a rigid pivot axis about which the cover can be pivoted. With this design, the cover can pivot or tilt about a defined pivot axis, preferably a horizontal pivot axis, when moved between the first and the second position. In the first position, in which the cover is tilted forward by a few degrees, i.e. towards the front end of the center console, for example, the pivot axis runs horizontally and transversely to the longitudinal direction of the center console, so that the cover can be pivoted about this rigid pivot axis when moved from the first position and moved into the horizontal position, and vice versa.

[0009] The articulated connection can have a first articulated section connected to the support and a second articulated section connected to the cover, with both articulated sections being connected to one another to form the pivot axis. The first articulated section is designed, for example, as a cylindrical web, while the second articulated section is designed as a rounded clamp or clamping section that can be snapped onto the cylindrical web, thus forming the articulated connection. The articulated connection is thus designed in the manner of a hinge, with the two articulated sections on both components to be coupled together.

[0010] With this variant, it is also useful if the support is guided in the holder via an anti-twist device. This anti-twist device ensures that the support, and with it the cover, does not rotate around a vertical axis when moving between the two end positions, so that the pivot axis is always aligned in the same position relative to its surroundings, i.e., to the surface or top of the component or console.

[0011] According to a particularly advantageous second variant of the invention, the articulated connection can also be a ball-and-socket joint. While in the first variant of the invention the articulated connection is designed as a rigid pivot axis that offers only one degree of freedom of movement, namely pivoting around the rigid pivot axis, the inventive design of the articulated connection as a ball-and-socket joint allows the lid to be tilted relative to the support in any direction, i.e., virtually by 360°. This variant offers even greater design freedom with regard to the layout and orientation of the top or surface, as the lid is capable of adapting to any orientation of the top or surface. The top or surface can therefore be tilted forwards, backwards, or sideways as desired; the lid is capable of adapting to any spatial orientation.There are virtually no restrictions regarding the mounting position in which the vessel holder is installed in the console component, as the lid is always correctly aligned.

[0012] To realize a joint connection allowing this arbitrary mobility, the joint can have a spherical first joint section and a dome-shaped second joint section that partially encompasses the first joint section. The first spherical joint section is arranged, for example, on the support, while the dome-shaped second joint section is provided on the underside of the cover. The second joint section is snapped onto the first joint section, thus creating the joint connection.

[0013] Regardless of how the concrete design is realized, the components involved, in particular the support and the cover as well as the corresponding elements of the joint connection, are preferably made of plastic, which allows for simple production.

[0014] According to the invention, the lid is mounted relative to the support against the restoring force of at least one spring element. In addition to the articulated connection, the lid is spring-mounted on the support via this spring element. The at least one spring element ensures that the lid is moved from a tilted position into a horizontal position in which it provides the support surface. When moving into the raised first position, in which the lid is tilted relative to the support, the at least one spring element is deformed accordingly, thus building up a restoring force. This restoring force guides the lid back into the horizontal position when moved into the second position. If the lid is mounted via a rigid pivot axis, for example, only one spring element can be provided, which is deformed accordingly when moved into the tilted first position and builds up the restoring force.In this variant, two spring elements can also be provided, for example at opposite positions, with one spring element being compressed and the other lengthened upon tilting. In a design with a ball joint and consequently any pivotability, several spring elements, for example three or four spring elements, are expediently arranged around the ball joint. This ensures that in the event of any tilting, one or more spring elements are always deformed accordingly, building up a restoring force. However, the use of just a single, annular spring element would also be conceivable. This spring element surrounds the articulated connection or within which the articulated connection is accommodated and on which the beam and the ceiling are supported.Because of this arrangement with grips around the joint connection, deformation of the one ring-shaped spring element is also ensured in any tilting direction.

[0015] A coil spring, a disc spring, or an element made of an elastic material can be used as a spring element. A coil spring, a disc spring, or a disc spring assembly can be made of metal or plastic. The respective spring element is attached to corresponding holding sections on the cover and the support, e.g., by clipping or something similar. Several coil springs or disc springs can be distributed around the circumference in a ball joint connection, or just a single coil spring or disc spring can be provided that surrounds the ball joint connection. An element made of an elastic material can, for example, be made of an elastomer or foam.

[0016] The carrier itself can be moved against a restoring force from the raised to the lowered position, where it can be secured by a releasable locking device. This restoring force causes the carrier and with it the lid to automatically return from the lowered position to the raised position when the container is removed. To prevent the carrier and lid from moving upwards each time the container is removed, the carrier is advantageously locked in the lowered position by the locking device. This locking device is only released when the container is finally removed and the holder is to be closed again. When the container is inserted for the first time, the lid and carrier are moved into the lowered position, where they are then locked. In this lowered, locked position, the container can be removed and inserted several times.The lock is only released when the item is finally removed.

[0017] To generate the restoring force for automatically returning the carrier and lid, a spring means is preferably provided, via which the carrier is coupled to the receptacle. This spring means can, for example, be a coil spring or similar.

[0018] The locking mechanism is necessary due to the integration of a means, such as a spring, that generates the restoring force. The locking mechanism is preferably designed as a push-push mechanism. With such a mechanism, when the carrier and lid are moved into the lowered position, the locking is automatically achieved upon reaching this position. To release the locking mechanism, sufficient pressure must be applied to the lid and thus the carrier via the container, which lowers the carrier slightly. This activates the push-push mechanism and releases the locking mechanism. The carrier is then released, and the restoring force returns the carrier and lid back to their original position.

[0019] A stop is preferably provided on the holder itself, against which the lid rests in the raised position and which defines the spatial orientation of the lid. The stop limits the vertical movement of the lid and defines the spatial position of the lid. When assembling the vessel holder, only the orientation with respect to the component or the surface or top side needs to be taken into account if only a rigid pivot axis is provided, so that the orientation of the pivot axis is correct with respect to the orientation of the top side or surface and thus also of the stop. With a ball joint connection, no defined orientation needs to be observed during assembly, since the lid orients itself automatically.

[0020] In addition to the vessel holder itself, the invention further relates to a console component for a motor vehicle comprising a vessel holder of the type described above. The console component is preferably a center console.

[0021] The mount is conveniently recessed into the console component, with the lid's surface being integrated flush with the console component's surface in the raised position. The surface of the console component can be formed by a plastic surface or layer of plastic, a leather covering, or something similar. The top surface is also conveniently covered with the same material that forms the surface, so that the lid's top surface blends seamlessly and visually into the console's surface.

[0022] If the support itself does not have a corresponding stop against which the lid rests in the raised position and which defines the spatial position of the lid, such a stop can be provided on the console component itself. This means that the console itself has the stop that ensures the precise alignment of the lid.

[0023] Finally, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one console component of the type described above. The console component is preferably a center console.

[0024] Further advantages and details of the present invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below and from the drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a vessel holder according to the invention of a first embodiment with a rigid pivot axis and with the carrier including the lid in the raised position, Fig. 2 the vessel holder Fig. 1 with the carrier and lid in the lowered position, Fig. 3 a schematic diagram of a vessel holder according to the invention of a second embodiment with a ball joint connection and with the carrier including the lid in the raised position, Fig. 4 the vessel holder Fig. 3 with the support and lid in the lowered position, and Fig. 5 a plan view of the vessel holder installed in a console component according to Fig. 3 showing any tilt direction.

[0025] Fig. Figure 1 shows a vessel holder 1 according to the invention, comprising a housing-like receptacle 2, which in the example shown is pot- or cup-shaped and has a cylindrical outer wall 3 and a base 4. The vessel holder further comprises a lid 5, which is arranged via an articulated connection 6 so as to be tiltable on a support 7, which is vertically guided within the receptacle 2 and movable in a rotationally secured manner. In addition to the articulated connection 6, the lid 5 is also connected to the support 7 via two spring elements 8, for example, coil springs.

[0026] The vessel holder is shown in its installed position in a console component 9, wherein the console component 9 has a corresponding opening 10, which is delimited by a circumferential edge 11, which simultaneously forms a stop 12 for the lid 5, which also has a circumferential stop 13. The lid 5 is in the Fig. 1, is integrated in the opening 10, thus engaging therein, so that the upper side or surface 14 of the cover 5 is substantially flush with the upper side or surface 15 of the console component 9.

[0027] How Fig. 1, the upper side or surface 15 of the console component 9 in the area of ​​the opening 10 does not run horizontally, but is at an angle to the base 4 and thus also to the support 7, which is arranged and guided in a fixed position within the receptacle 2 in its spatial orientation. As a result of the support of the cover 5 via the articulated connection 6 in conjunction with the spring elements 8, the cover 5 can tilt about the articulated connection 6 and automatically align itself with respect to the spatial orientation of the upper side or surface 15 or the stop 12, respectively, when it is in the Fig. 1. It is clearly tilted about the articulated connection 6; the spring element 8 shown on the left is extended and builds up a restoring force; the spring element 8 shown on the right is compressed and also builds up a restoring force.

[0028] The articulated connection 6 is designed as a rigid articulated connection, i.e., it has a rigid pivot axis 16. The articulated connection 6 has a first articulated section 17, which is connected to the support 2 or arranged thereon and is designed as a horizontally extending, cylindrical pin. A second articulated section 18 is provided on the cover 5, which is designed as an elongated, rounded receptacle and is snapped onto the first articulated section 17. The articulated sections 17, 18 thus form a type of hinge, which has a rigid pivot axis 16, about which the cover 5 tilts relative to the support 7.

[0029] If a vessel is to be placed in the vessel holder 1, it is placed on the top or surface 14 of the lid 5 and pressed against the lid 5. This causes the lid 5 together with the support 7 to be moved downwards against the restoring force of a spring means 19, by means of which the support 7 is supported in the receptacle 2 or against the base 4. In this case, the spring means 19, for example again a helical spring, is compressed and builds up a restoring force. Simultaneously with the movement from the Fig. 1, the lid 5 pivots about the rigid pivot axis 16 into a horizontal position, so that it forms a horizontal support surface in the lowered position shown in Fig. 2, on which the Fig. 2 vessel 20 shown only in dashed lines. In the Fig. In the lowered position shown in Figure 2, in which the spring means 19 is correspondingly strongly compressed and builds up a correspondingly high restoring force, the carrier 7 is releasably locked via a locking device 21, preferably a push-push mechanism. This means that the carrier 7 together with the cover 5 is in the Fig. 2 shown lowered position, so that the vessel 20 can be removed and replaced as often as desired without the carrier 7 together with the lid 5 having to be returned each time via the spring means 19 to the position shown in Fig. 1 shown raised position. Only for a final removal, the locking device 21 is released again, for example by pressing the container 20 forcefully on the lid 5 and thus also the carrier 7, which leads to the automatic release of the push-push mechanism, i.e. the locking device 21, so that the carrier 7 is released again and, via the spring means 19, returns to the position shown in Fig. 1. Upon moving into this raised position, the cover-side stop 13 runs against the console-side stop 12, causing the cover 5 to automatically pivot about the rigid pivot axis 16 and the corresponding deformation of the spring elements 8. In the end position, the cover 5 is again flush with the opening 10.

[0030] Figures 3 and 4 show a second alternative of the vessel holder 1 according to the invention, again comprising a pot- or cup-shaped receptacle 2 with the cylindrical outer wall 3 and the base 4 as well as the lid 5, which is tiltably mounted on the carrier 7 via a hinged connection 6. A plurality of spring elements 8 are again provided, again for example coil springs, with three or four such spring elements 8 preferably being distributed around the circumference of the hinged connection 6 in this example. This is because the hinged connection 6 is designed here as a ball joint connection, which allows tilting in any direction, as will be explained below.

[0031] Here, too, the vessel holder 1 is arranged in a console component 9, which has an opening 10, into which the lid 5 is again inserted flush. The edge 11, which borders the opening 10, is again designed as a stop 12, and the lid 5 also has a circumferential stop 13, by means of which, as already described, the automatic alignment of the lid is achieved. In the Fig. 3, the upper side or surface 14 of the cover 5 is again flush with the upper side or surface 15 of the console component 9. Also provided is the spring means 19, by means of which the carrier 7 is supported on the base 4, as well as the locking device 21, which is used to lock the carrier 7 in the position shown here in Fig. 4 shown lowered position.

[0032] Also in this embodiment, the upper side or surface 15 of the console component 9 extends at an angle to the surface of the base 4, so that the cover 5 changes in its spatial orientation relative to the support 7, which is fixed in its spatial orientation, when it is in the raised position according to Fig. 3. This is ensured, as already described for the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2, by the articulated connection 6. Unlike the embodiment according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, however, the joint connection 6 is designed as a ball joint connection 22. It comprises a spherical first joint section 23, which is provided on the support 7, and a dome-shaped second joint section 24, which is snapped onto the spherical first joint section 23, thus forming a ball joint. This ball joint connection allows the cover 7 to tilt in any direction relative to the support 7. This is exemplified in Fig. 5, which shows a top view of the console component 9 or its top side or surface 15. The situation is shown according to Fig. 3, in which the lid 5 is integrated into the opening 10. The stop 13 of the lid 5 rests against the stop 12 of the console component 9, and the upper side or surface 14 of the lid 5 is received flush in the opening 10. As the arrows P1, P2 indicate, the lid 5 was tilted in any direction relative to the support 7 due to the ball joint connection 22. This means that during assembly of the vessel holder 1, no consideration needs to be given to a specific orientation of the installation position, unlike in the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2 with the rigid pivot axis 16, which must be positioned precisely so that the lid 5 there can pivot flush into the corresponding raised position in which it is received in the opening 10. The ball joint connection 22, on the other hand, allows any arrangement orOrientation of the vessel holder 1 around its vertical axis in the corresponding recess in the console component 9, since the lid 5 can be oriented as desired when lifted.

[0033] Based on the Fig. 3, when the vessel 20, which is also shown only in dashed lines, is set, the lid 5 is automatically moved from the tilted position according to Fig. 3 is brought into a horizontal position, while it is pressed down together with the support 7 towards the floor 4. Upon reaching the lowered, in Fig.In the position shown in Figure 4, the carrier 7 is again locked via the locking device 21, wherein the locking device 21 is expediently again designed as a push-push mechanism. Due to the orientation, the container 20 can be removed and inserted as often as desired in this variant as well. Only for the final removal is the locking device 21 released, which is achieved by applying appropriate force by means of the container 20 to the lid 5 and thus to the carrier 21, which leads to the opening of the locking device 21. The compressed spring means 19 lifts the carrier 7 together with the lid 5 again and guides it towards the stop 12 of the console component 9.The cover 5 runs with its stop 13 against the stop 12 and thereby automatically aligns itself with respect to the spatial orientation of the stop 12, i.e. it pivots about the ball joint connection 22 and automatically orients itself with respect to the spatial orientation of the stop 12 or the upper side or surface 15 of the console component 9.

[0034] As described, preferably three or four, optionally even more, spring elements 8 are arranged distributed around the circumference of the ball joint 22. This ensures that, since the installation position of the vessel holder 1 in the console component 9 is arbitrary, one or more spring elements are deformed in each installation position to build up a restoring force when the lid 5 tilts in the raised position relative to the support 7.

[0035] As an alternative to using separate spring elements 8, it is also conceivable to provide only one spring element 8, for example in the form of a helical spring, which surrounds, i.e., accommodates, the articulated connection 6, whether it be an articulated connection with a rigid pivot axis 16 or a ball joint connection 22. Even with such an arrangement, a corresponding deformation of the single spring element is ensured when the cover 5 tilts relative to the support 7, thereby building up a restoring force.

[0036] For fastening the spring element(s) 8 and the spring means 19, corresponding holders or fastening receptacles for the respective spring element or spring means are provided on the cover 5 and on the support 7 or on the base 4, for example corresponding snap-in receptacles or the like.

Claims

[1] Vessel holder, comprising a housing-like receptacle (2) into which a vessel (20) can be inserted, and a lid (5) which is movable from a raised first position, in which it closes the top of the receptacle (2), into a lowered second position within the receptacle (2), in which it serves as a support surface for the vessel (20), wherein the lid (5) is mounted on a support (7) which is movable with it between the first and the second position via an articulated connection (6) allowing tilting of the lid relative to the support (7) which is fixed in its spatial orientation, characterized by that the cover (5) is mounted so as to be movable relative to the carrier (7) against the restoring force of at least one spring element (8). [2] Vessel holder according to claim 1, characterized by that the articulated connection (6) has a rigid pivot axis (16) about which the cover (5) can be pivoted. [3] Vessel holder according to claim 2, characterized bythat the articulated connection (6) has a first articulated section (17) which is connected to the support (7) and a second articulated section (18) which is connected to the cover (5), wherein both articulated sections (17, 18) are connected to one another to form the pivot axis (16). [4] Vessel holder according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the carrier (7) is guided in the holder (2) via an anti-twist device. [5] Vessel holder according to claim 1, characterized by that the joint connection (6) is a ball joint connection (22). [6] Vessel holder according to claim 5, characterized by that the ball joint connection (22) has a spherical first joint section (23) and a dome-shaped second joint section (24) partially encompassing the first joint section (23). [7] Vessel holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the spring element (8) is a helical spring or a disc spring or an element consisting of an elastic material. [8] Vessel holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the carrier (7) is movable against a restoring force from the raised to the lowered position, in which it can be fixed by means of a releasable locking device (21). [9] Vessel holder according to claim 8, characterized by that a spring means (19) is provided to generate the restoring force, via which the carrier (7) is coupled to the receptacle (2). [10] Vessel holder according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by that the locking device (21) is a push-push mechanism. [11] Vessel holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a stop is provided on the receptacle (2) against which the cover (5) rests in the raised position and which defines the spatial orientation of the cover (5). [12] Console component for a motor vehicle, comprising a vessel holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims. [13] Console component according to claim 12, characterized by that the receptacle (2) is recessed in the console component, wherein the cover (5) in the raised position is integrated with its surface (14) flush into a surface (15) of the console component (9). [14] Console component according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by that a stop (12) is provided on the console component (9), against which the cover (5) rests in the raised position and which defines the spatial position of the cover (5). [15] Motor vehicle, comprising at least one console component (9) according to one of claims 12 to 14. [16] Motor vehicle according to claim 15 characterized by that the console component (9) is a center console.

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