ADAPTIVE CONTAINER HOLDER

Abstract

This adaptive container holder comprises a support (2) capable of holding a container, and a base (3) forming a foot for the container holder (1) and supporting the support (2), said support (2) comprising a cylinder (6) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) and grippers (9) mounted by pivot joint on said cylinder (6) and configured to have a deployed position in which said grippers have one end brought towards said longitudinal axis (X) so as to grip a container placed in the cylinder (6), and a retracted position in which said end of each gripper (9) is moved away from the longitudinal axis (X) so as to release said container from any gripping by said grippers (9), said adaptive container holder (1) further comprising an actuation system (12, 13, 15, 16) configured to drive said grippers (9) in rotation to and from their positions Deployed and retracted. Figure for the abbreviation: [Fig 1]

Description

Title of the invention: ADAPTIVE CONTAINER HOLDER technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to container holders for holding a container, such as a cup, a glass or a mug.

[0002] The present invention aims to provide an adaptable container carrier, that is, one that allows the user to transport a container regardless of its dimensions. Prior art

[0003] Known container holders do not have an adaptive mechanism to allow the user to transport a container regardless of its cup dimensions, particularly within a vehicle. Description of the invention

[0004] The invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawback and to provide a container holder capable of combining the advantages of speed, simplicity and reliability for its implementation, and this over a wide range of container dimensions, while also being able to be manufactured in one piece by an additive manufacturing process, with moving parts.

[0005] In view of the foregoing, the invention relates to an adaptive container holder comprising a support suitable for holding a container, and a base forming a foot of the container holder and carrying the support, said support comprising a cylinder extending along a longitudinal axis and grippers mounted in pivot connection on said cylinder and configured to have a deployed position in which said grippers have an end brought close to said longitudinal axis so as to grip a container placed in the cylinder, and a retracted position in which said end of each gripper is moved away from the longitudinal axis so as to release said container from any gripping by said grippers, said adaptive container holder further comprising an actuation system configured to drive said grippers in rotation from and to their deployed and retracted positions.

[0006] Preferably, the grippers have a first end connected to the cylinder by a pivot joint with respect to said cylinder, and a second free end to grip the container in the deployed position of the grippers.

[0007] For example, the cylinder has an annular plate along an upper periphery of the cylinder, and the grippers are retracted under said annular plate when they are in their retracted position.

[0008] Advantageously, the annular plate covers the upper edge of the cylinder and is mounted to rotate freely with respect to the cylinder and around the longitudinal axis, each gripper being fixed relative to the cylinder and further comprising a groove, the annular plate further comprising a pin per gripper inserted into the groove of said gripper.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the actuation system comprises locking tabs mounted in radial translation on the cylinder in slots on the sides of the cylinder and under the annular plate, the actuation system further comprising first notches extending radially on each tab and second notches extending radially on the cylinder and configured to be able to cooperate with said first notches so as to provide a plurality of positions of partial blocking of the rotation of the upper plate by interlacing of the first notches and the second notches when the tabs are inserted radially in said slots.

[0010] In one embodiment, the second crenellations are arranged under the annular plate.

[0011] Advantageously, the first and second crenellations have complementary shapes of increasing lengths in an orthoradial direction around the longitudinal axis.

[0012] The adaptive container holder may further provide that the grippers have an elongated and curved shape, which allows an inner curved portion 17 of the grippers to adapt to the curvature of the container regardless of its size.

[0013] Preferably, the base has a flared shape widening towards the support.

[0014] The invention also relates to a container holder in which the grippers are numbering three to seven, distributed in quadrants around the longitudinal axis and on the upper circumference of the cylinder, each of the grippers being coupled to the actuation system and configured to be actuated in such a way as to drive said grippers in rotation from and to their deployed and retracted positions during the rotation of the annular plate around the longitudinal axis. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] The invention will be better understood upon detailed study of an embodiment taken by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0016] [Fig-1] represents the adaptive container holder in perspective view. Detailed description

[0017] Figure 1 illustrates the adaptive container holder 1 according to the invention, comprising a support 2 suitable for holding a container, such as a glass, a cup, a mug...

[0018] The adaptive container holder 1 further comprises a base 3 forming a foot of the container holder 1 and carrying the support 2.

[0019] The support 2 comprises a cylinder 6 extending along a longitudinal axis X.

[0020] The adaptive container holder 1 includes grippers 9 mounted in pivot connection on said cylinder 6 and configured to have a deployed position in which said grippers have an end brought close to said longitudinal axis X so as to grip a container placed in the cylinder 6, and a retracted position in which said end of each gripper 9 is moved away from the longitudinal axis X so as to release said container from any gripping by said grippers 9.

[0021] The adaptive container holder 1 further includes an actuation system 12,13,15,16 configured to drive said grippers 9 in rotation from and to their deployed and retracted positions.

[0022] An adaptive container holder 1 is thus made thanks to the mechanism which adapts to the diameter of the container when the grippers are in the deployed position, and which the user can manipulate to optimize the clamping of the object by bringing the grippers closer to the center represented by the longitudinal axis X, to choose the holding force of the container by these grippers 9.

[0023] Preferably, the grippers 9 have a first end connected to the cylinder 6 by a pivot joint 14 with respect to said cylinder 6, and a second free end to grip the container in the deployed position of the grippers 9.

[0024] For example, the cylinder 6 has an annular plate 7 along an upper periphery of the cylinder 6, and the grippers 9 are retracted under said annular plate 7 when they are in their retracted position.

[0025] Advantageously, the annular plate 7 covers the upper edge of the cylinder 6 and is mounted freely to rotate relative to the cylinder 6 and around the longitudinal axis X, each gripper 9 being fixed relative to the cylinder 6 and further comprising a groove 15, the annular plate 7 further comprising a pin 16 per gripper 9 inserted in the groove 15 of said gripper 9.

[0026] A wheel is thus formed for tightening the container, which the user can rotate around the longitudinal axis X to move in translation.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the actuation system 12, 13, 15, 16 comprises locking tabs 10 mounted in radial translation on the cylinder 6 in slots 11 on the sides of the cylinder 6 and under the annular plate 7, the actuation system 12, 13, 15, 16 further comprising first notches 12 extending radially on each tab 10 and second notches 13 extending radially on the cylinder 6 configured to be able to cooperate with said first notches 12 so as to provide a plurality of positions of partial blocking of the rotation of the upper plate 7 by interlacing of the first notches 12 and the second notches 13 when the tabs 10 are inserted radially in said slots 11.

[0028] In one embodiment, the second crenellations 13 are arranged under the annular plate 7.

[0029] Advantageously, the first crenellations 12 and the second crenellations 13 have complementary shapes of increasing lengths in an orthoradial direction around the longitudinal axis X.

[0030] The method may further provide that the grippers 9 have an elongated and curved shape.

[0031] Preferably, the base 3 has a flared shape widening towards the support 2.

[0032] The base 3 terminates, for example, with a retaining element 4 in the form of a plate of diameter less than cylinder 6.

[0033] The container holder 1 may include extensions 5 which may include a curvature to form the flared shape.

[0034] The retaining element 4 connects the extensions 5 together to reinforce the base 3.

[0035] The annular plate 7 may have through or blind recesses 8 allowing the container holder 16 to be lightened.

[0036] The invention also relates to a container holder in which the grippers 9 are three to seven in number, distributed in quadrants around the longitudinal axis X and on the upper periphery of the cylinder 6, each of the grippers 9 being coupled to the actuation system which is configured to be actuated so as to drive said grippers 9 in rotation from and to their deployed and retracted positions during the rotation of the annular plate 7 around the longitudinal axis X.

[0037] By its design, the container holder 1 can thus be manufactured entirely by additive manufacturing, each part being able, for example, to be printed in three-dimensional printing directly in its intended location in the container holder 1 to form the complete container holder 1 in any of the shapes described above.

[0038] The advantage of being able to manufacture the container holder 1 entirely by additive manufacturing is particularly important because it allows a significant time saving by eliminating the assembly phase, the entire solution being able to be produced in one piece, with moving parts between them.

Claims

1. Demands An adaptive container holder (1) comprising a support (2) capable of holding a container, and a base (3) forming a foot for the container holder (1) and supporting the support (2), said support (2) comprising a cylinder (6) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) and grippers (9) mounted by pivot connection on said cylinder (6) and configured to have a deployed position in which said grippers have one end brought closer to said longitudinal axis (X) so as to grip a container placed in the cylinder (6), and a retracted position in which said end of each gripper (9) is moved away from the longitudinal axis (X) so as to release said container from any gripping by said grippers (9), said adaptive container holder (1) further comprising an actuation system (12, 13, 15, 16) configured to drive said grippers (9) in rotation from and towards their deployed and retracted positions,the grippers (9) having a first end connected to the cylinder (6) by a pivot joint (14) with respect to said cylinder (6), and a second free end for gripping the container in the deployed position of the grippers (9), the cylinder (6) having an annular plate (7) along an upper periphery of the cylinder (6), and the grippers (9) being retracted under said annular plate (7) when in their retracted position, the annular plate (7) covering the upper edge of the cylinder (6) and being mounted to rotate freely with respect to the cylinder (6) and about the longitudinal axis (X), each gripper (9) being fixed with respect to the cylinder (6) and further having a groove (15), the annular plate (7) further having a pin (16) for each gripper (9) inserted into the groove (15) of said gripper (9), the actuation system (12, 13, 15,16) comprising locking tabs (10) mounted in radial translation on the cylinder (6) in slots (11) on the sides of the cylinder (6) and under the annular plate (7), the actuation system (12, 13, 15, 16) further comprising first notches (12) extending radially on each tab (10) and second notches (13) extending radially on the cylinder (6) and configured to cooperate with said first notches (12) so as to provide a plurality of positions for partially blocking the rotation of the upper plate (7) by, interlacing of the first crenellations (12) and the second crenellations (13) when the tabs (10) are inserted radially into said slots (11).

2. Adaptive container holder according to claim 1, wherein the second notches (13) are arranged under the annular plate (7).

3. Adaptive container holder according to claim 2, wherein the first crenellations (12) and the second crenellations (13) have complementary shapes of increasing lengths in an orthoradial direction around the longitudinal axis (X).

4. Adaptive container holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the grippers (9) have an elongated and curved shape.

5. Adaptive container holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the base (3) has a flared shape widening towards the support (2).

6. Adaptive container holder according to claim 1, wherein the grippers (9) are three to seven in number, distributed in quadrants around the longitudinal axis (X) and on the upper periphery of the cylinder (6), each of the grippers (9) being coupled to the actuation system configured to be actuated so as to drive said grippers (9) in rotation from and to their deployed and retracted positions during the rotation of the annular plate (7) around the longitudinal axis (X).

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