Automotive bottle holder

Abstract

The invention relates to a bottle holder for a motor vehicle adapted to be installed against a first wall (70) erected relative to a second horizontal wall (68). It comprises a plate (10) and two flexible arms (16, 18) extending from said plate opposite each other, forming a clamp, while said plate (10) has, opposite said two arms (16, 18), a fastener (58, 60, 72). Said plate (10) is then able to be connected to said first wall (70) by said fastener at a given distance from said second wall (68), while said two arms (16, 18) extend substantially parallel to said second wall (68) to receive the neck (80) of a bottle (78) erected against said second wall. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 4

Description

Title of the invention: Bottle holder for motor vehicle

[0001] The present application relates to a bottle holder for motor vehicles.

[0002] One envisaged field of application is, in particular, holding bottles in a fixed position in the trunk of a vehicle.

[0003] It is known to implement folding bottle holders on the floor panel of a motor vehicle's trunk. Typically, bottle holders capable of holding bottles upright can be deployed. However, this type of bottle holder lacks specific attachment elements within the trunk, and the risk of movement within the trunk due to driving conditions remains, potentially leading to damage to the bottles. Furthermore, bottle holders of this type remain bulky when folded.

[0004] Another type of bottle rack, in the form of a crate, allows bottles to be stored horizontally on the floor of the trunk. Again, this type of bottle rack is subject to the vehicle's driving conditions and can move within the trunk during acceleration or deceleration. Furthermore, it is just as bulky when full of bottles as when empty.

[0005] Yet another type of bottle holder allows for the preservation of bottles during transport. Indentations shaped to fit the bottles are made in a protective support, which is integrated under the trunk floor panel. The bottles are placed horizontally in this support. The risk of damage to the bottles is then minimal. However, the space under the trunk floor panel, which is usually reserved for the spare tire, is no longer available for it.

[0006] Also, a problem which arises and which the present invention aims to solve is to provide a bottle support which not only preserves the bottles in driving and vehicle operation situations, but is also compact.

[0007] In order to solve this problem, a bottle holder for a motor vehicle is proposed, adapted to be installed against a first wall erected in relation to a second horizontal wall.

[0008] The bottle support according to the invention comprises a plate and two flexible arms extending from said plate opposite each other in a clamping action, while said plate has, opposite said two arms, an attachment, by which said plate is able to be connected to said first wall by said attachment at a given distance from said second wall, while said two arms extend substantially parallel to said second wall to receive in grip the neck of a bottle upright on said second wall.

[0009] Thus, a feature of the invention lies in the implementation of a support that allows the bottles to be held upright against the floor wall of the trunk, for example along a side wall. In other words, the bottles are held vertically, with the base against the floor wall and the neck held between the two arms of the support that grip it.

[0010] Thus, the bottle holder is compact and can also be retracted, as will be explained below. Moreover, a plurality of bottle holders according to the invention can be installed in the trunk.

[0011] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said two arms are elastically deformable so that they can be forcibly pulled apart and brought back together when released. In this way, the two arms can be pulled apart while the neck of the bottle to be held in place is inserted between them. They are then released and grip the neck tightly.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, said two arms have two first portions extending from said plate, converging towards each other, and two second portions extending respectively in line with said first two portions, diverging from each other to a free end. Such an embodiment offers two advantages. First, the neck of the bottle can be forcibly moved in translation between the two second portions, which then naturally spread apart, forming a ramp. Second, when the neck reaches between the first two portions, the two arms move closer together and grip it. Thus, the bottle can be adjusted with one hand in the bottle holder without necessarily spreading the two arms apart with the other hand. Furthermore, the neck of the bottle is held more firmly between the first two arm portions, which grip it.

[0013] Furthermore, and particularly advantageously, the bottle support comprises a bearing element extending from the plate between the two arms. Preferably, the bearing element extends in the vicinity of the plate between the first two arm portions, and it has an arc-shaped portion adapted to receive the bottle neck. In this way, the bottle neck is held securely in a fixed position.

[0014] Moreover, and according to an alternative embodiment, each of said two branches is doubled. Such a configuration allows for better retention of the bottle neck.

[0015] According to this embodiment, in accordance with a particular method of implementation, each of said two branches has an external portion extending from said plate to said free end of the second branch portion, and an internal portion extending from said free end of the second branch portion to along said external portion, up to an end of second free portion located in the vicinity of said plate.

[0016] Thus, the inner portion is attached to the end of the outer portion, opposite the base plate, and extends back towards the base plate from the outer portion. The inner portion has a first section which, from this end, diverges significantly from the outer portion and then continues with a second section which subsequently approaches the base plate. As will be explained in more detail later in the description, this second section allows the neck of the bottle to be held even more firmly.

[0017] According to the invention, said fastener preferably comprises a hook having a body surmounted by a flat head, and a slide formed on said plate for receiving said flat head in engagement. The body of the hook is intended to be engaged through the first wall, or side wall, while the plate is adapted to be connected to the hook via its slide and the flat head.

[0018] Preferably, said flat head is rectangular in shape. Consequently, two opposite edges of the flat head are able to slide within the guide to hold the plate in a fixed position relative to the first wall. The plate is then prevented from rotating relative to the rectangular flat head. Therefore, the two arms extend outward from the first wall substantially perpendicular to it.

[0019] Preferably, said body includes first locking lugs. These lugs are adapted to grip against the reverse side of the first wall and thus allow the piton to be held in a fixed position through the wall.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the temples and the plate are molded together in one piece from a polymer material. An elastically deformable polymer, such as polyamide or polyester, is chosen. This type of material provides the necessary flexibility and elasticity of the two temples without any further modifications.

[0021] In addition, the first parts of the internal portions of the branch can also flex as will be explained in more detail later in the description to facilitate the engagement of the neck between the branches, and also improve its retention.

[0022] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of example but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] [Fig. 1] is a schematic perspective view of a bottle support element according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] is a schematic elevation view of the bottle support according to the invention in a first assembly phase;

[0025] [Fig.3] is a schematic view of the object of [Fig.2] in a second assembly phase;

[0026] [Fig.4] is a schematic top view of the object of [Fig.2] in a third assembly phase; and,

[0027] [Fig.5] is a schematic view of the object of [Fig.4] in a fourth assembly phase.

[0028] Figure 1 shows a first element 15 of the bottle support according to the invention. It is molded in one piece from a polymer material. For example, it is molded from polyamide. It comprises a plate 10 having two opposing lateral edges 12, 14, and two opposing arms 16, 18 extending respectively from the two opposing edges 12, 14, facing each other and symmetrically to each other with respect to a median plane Pm. The median plane Pm intersects the plate 10 perpendicularly.

[0029] It will be observed that the polymer material used allows elastic flexibility of the two branches 16, 18 relative to each other. In other words, the two branches 16, 18 can be forcibly pulled apart and return to their initial position by elastic recoil.

[0030] Also, the plate 10 has two opposite faces, a first face 20 and a second face 22, for connection.

[0031] Thus, the two branches 16, 18 respectively have two first portions 24, 26 extending from the two opposite lateral edges 12, 14 of the plate, converging towards each other until an inflection point where the first two portions 24, 26 are continued by two second portions 28, 30 which diverge to two free ends 32, 34 respectively. The inflection points of the two branches 16, 18, where their curvature reverses, are located in a transverse plane Pt perpendicular to the median plane Pm.

[0032] In other words, the two branches 16, 18 delimit a first V-shaped zone 36 between the two second portions 28, 30, up to a constricted zone 38, then a second V-shaped zone 40 between the first two portions 24, 26.

[0033] Moreover, the two branches 16, 18 respectively have external portions 42, 44 attached to the lateral edges 14, 12 of the plate 10 and extending to the two free ends 32, 34. The two branches 16, 18 also have two internal portions 46, 48 extending backwards respectively from the two free ends 32, 34 and along the external portions 42, 44, to second free portion ends 50, 52 located in the vicinity of the plate 10.

[0034] Also, it will be observed that the two internal portions 46, 48 respectively have a first part 43 which deviates substantially from the external portions 42, 44 from the two free ends 32, 34 up to the constricted zone 38, and a second part 45 which then comes together in the second V-shaped zone 40. The two parts 43, 45 converge towards a vertex 47 defining the constricted zone 38.

[0035] Thanks to the polymer material used to mold the assembly, these two internal portions 46, 48 are flexible relative to the two external portions 42, 44 respectively. They can flex at the two free ends 32, 34 and thus be brought closer to the two external portions 42, 44, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0036] In addition, the first element 15 includes a support element 54 extending from the plate 10 between the first two portions 24, 26 of the arms 16, 18. The support element 54 terminates with an arc-shaped portion 56 extending opposite the first face 20 of the plate 10 and whose concavity is oriented in the opposite direction towards the second V-shaped zone 40.

[0037] Also, on the opposite side, the plate 10 has, on the second face 22, two opposing slides 58, 60 respectively along the two opposing lateral edges 12, 14. And two opposite ends of the two opposing slides 58, 60 are joined together by a stop bridge 62.

[0038] In addition, the plate 10 has a flexible tongue 64 extending between the two opposite slides 58, 60. And the flexible tongue 64 is provided with a stop lug 66.

[0039] Reference will now be made to [Fig.2], which shows the support, the object of the invention, during assembly.

[0040] Also, [Fig.2] shows a floor wall 68 of a chest 69 and a side wall of the chest 70 erected relative to the floor wall 68. Also, a pin 72 having a body 74 surmounted by a square flat head 76, is engaged through the side wall of the chest 70. The body 74 is anchored in the wall 70 at a predetermined height of the floor wall 68, for example 20 cm, while the square flat head 76 extends projecting from the side wall into the chest.

[0041] And [Fig.2] also shows a bottle 78 having a neck 80, upright on the floor wall 68. Therefore, the neck 80 extends at the level of the peg 72.

[0042] It is understood that the first element 15 can be connected to the square flat head 76 of the pin 72 via the slides 58, 60. To do this, the plate 10 is adjusted relative to the side wall 70, directly above the square flat head 76, so as to cover the latter, while the two opposite edges of the square flat head engage respectively in the two opposing slides 58, 60, and the flexible tab 64 flexes substantially. As soon as the square flat head 76 comes to rest against the stop bridge 62, the flexible tab 64 elastically returns to its initial state. and the stop lug 66 comes into contact on the opposite side against the edge of the square flat head 76. The plate 10 is then locked onto the square flat head 76.

[0043] As illustrated in [Fig.3], the plate 10 is integral with the pin 72. Therefore, the two arms 16, 18 extend substantially parallel to the floor wall 68.

[0044] Thus, the bottle 78 is driven towards the side wall 70, until the neck 80 engages in the first V-shaped zone 36, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], top view. The neck 80 then slides against the first portions 43 of the two inner portions 46, 48 of the arms 16, 18. As the bottle 78 continues to be driven towards the side wall 70, the neck 80 causes the two arms 16, 18 to move apart. Simultaneously, the neck 80 causes the first portions 43 of the two inner portions 46, 48 to bend relative to the outer portions 42, 44.

[0045] The neck 80 then passes through the constricted zone 38, while the two branches 16, 18 are separated from each other by a maximum amplitude. Then, the neck 80 enters the second V-shaped zone 40, while the two branches 16, 18 move closer together, and comes to rest against the arc-shaped portion 56 of the support element 54 as illustrated in [Fig. 5].

[0046] The two second parts 45 then come to rest against the neck 80 and thus form a ramp. And they hold it in contact with the arc-shaped portion 56.

[0047] The neck 80 is thus held in a fixed position along a horizontal plane and the bottle 78, resting on the floor wall 68 of the chest, is held along the side wall 70.

[0048] The bottle is thus held vertically in a fixed position in the trunk, regardless of the usual driving and rolling conditions.

[0049] Conversely, it is easily dislodged from the support by forcibly pulling it in the opposite direction to the side wall 70. Thus, conversely, the two branches 16, 18 move apart from each other as the neck 80 passes through the constricted area 38. Then they move closer together again when the neck 80 enters the first V-shaped area 36 and then move away from the support.

[0050] After the bottle 78 has been released, it is easy to retract the element 15 by disengaging the plate 10 from the square flat head 76. A slight effort is required to overcome the grip of the stop lug 66 and the bending of the flexible tab 64.

[0051] Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is by no means limited to it and includes all technical equivalents of the means described as well as combinations thereof if these fall within the scope of the invention. For example, the two branches are not necessarily duplicated.

[0052] Furthermore, the use of the verb "to include", "to understand" or "to include" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those stated in a claim.

Claims

Demands

1. A bottle support for a motor vehicle adapted to be installed against a first wall (70) erected in relation to a second horizontal wall (68), characterized in that it comprises a plate (10) and two flexible arms (16, 18) extending from said plate opposite each other in a clamping motion, while said plate (10) has, opposite said two arms (16, 18), an attachment (58, 60, 72), by which said plate (10) is able to be connected to said first wall (70) by said attachment at a given distance from said second wall (68), while said two arms (16, 18) extend substantially parallel to said second wall (68) to receive in contact the neck (80) of a bottle (78) erected on said second wall.

2. Bottle support according to claim 1, characterized in that said two arms (16, 18) are elastically deformable so as to be able to be forcibly pulled apart from each other and to be able to come together when released.

3. Bottle support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said two arms (16, 18) have two first portions (24, 26) extending from said plate (10) converging towards each other and two second portions (28, 30) extending respectively in the continuation of said two first portions (24, 26) diverging from each other to a free end (32, 34).

4. Bottle support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises a support element (54) extending in projection from said plate (10) between said two arms (16, 18).

5. Bottle support according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each of said two arms (16, 18) is doubled.

6. Bottle support according to claims 3 and 5, characterized in that each of said two arms (16, 18) has an external portion (42, 44) extending from said plate (10) to said free end (32, 34) of the second arm portion, (28, 30) and an internal portion (46, 48) extending from said free end of the second branch portion along said external portion (42, 44), up to an end of second free portion (50, 52) located in the vicinity of said plate (10).

7. Bottle support according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said attachment comprises a pin (72) having a body (74) surmounted by a flat head (76), and a slide (58, 60) provided on said plate (10) to receive said flat head in engagement.

8. Bottle support according to claim 7, characterized in that said flat head (76) is rectangular in shape.

9. Bottle support according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said body comprises first stop lugs.

10. Bottle support according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said arms (16, 18) and said plate (10) are molded together in one piece from a polymer material.

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