Adjustable Vehicle Cup Holder With Passive Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cup holders with air passage systems for temperature control have a complicated structure, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cup holder with a vertically adjustable mounting portion and a side heat insulator that limits heat transfer, using a layered structure with vacuum and metal foil layers to maintain temperature stability, combined with a lift mechanism for accommodating containers of varying heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a passage system is added to direct warm or cool air into the accommodation portion, then temperature control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat insulation function from the side wall structure itself by incorporating a heat insulator layer, rather than adding a separate air passage system. This integrates temperature maintenance into the existing structure, avoiding increased complexity while still achieving thermal control.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat insulator enables the cup holder to maintain temperatures passively without requiring active air circulation systems. The structure serves itself by using insulating materials to retain heat or cold, eliminating the need for complex mechanical air passage systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mounting portion position is made adjustable in the vertical direction, then adaptability to different container heights is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting portion is designed to be movable in the vertical direction, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. This allows the mounting position to adapt to different container heights while maintaining relatively simple mechanics through guide grooves and movable connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup holder is divided into separate components: a movable mounting portion and a fixed side wall with heat insulator. This segmentation allows the mounting portion to move independently for height adjustment while the side wall remains stationary, achieving adaptability without complicating the overall structure.
3Temperature
If a heat insulator is added to the side wall, then temperature retention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is constructed as a composite structure with a heat insulator layer integrated into it. This uses composite materials (insulating material combined with structural material) to achieve both thermal insulation and structural support functions simultaneously, avoiding increased complexity by combining rather than adding separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat insulation function is merged with the side wall structure itself. Rather than adding a separate insulation component, the insulator is integrated into the side wall, combining structural and thermal functions in a single element to maintain simplicity while improving temperature retention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cup holder provides stable and efficient temperature retention for beverages by minimizing heat transfer and adjusting to container height, ensuring easy removal and visual temperature indication.
Implementation Method 1
A side heat insulator is arranged at least at a portion of the side wall that is higher than the mounting portion when the mounting portion is located at a lowest point. The side heat insulator limits transfer of heat in a thickness direction of the side wall.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle cup holder includes an accommodation portion including an upper end that has an opening. The accommodation portion is configured to accommodate at least a lower part of a beverage container. The accommodation portion includes a mounting portion configured such that the beverage container is placed on the mounting portion and a tubular side wall that surrounds the beverage container when the beverage container is placed on the mounting portion. A position of the mounting portion in a vertical direction is adjustable. A side heat insulator is arranged at least at a portion of the side wall that is higher than the mounting portion when the mounting portion is located at a lowest point. The side heat insulator limits transfer of heat in a thickness direction of the side wall.