Beverage container holding device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage container holding devices in vehicles are prone to operational failures due to liquid beverage spills, which cause the locking mechanism to become jammed, making it difficult to unlock and remove the container.
Innovation Solution
A beverage container holding device with a housing member, a movable floor, a biasing member, a locking mechanism, and an unlocking member, where the engaging portion between the claw and locking mechanism is positioned out of sight from the guide groove to prevent liquid from reaching and jamming the mechanism, and a drain tubular member to quickly discharge liquid, ensuring smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the claw and locking mechanism are positioned to be visible through the guide groove for easy monitoring, then the ease of operation is improved, but liquid beverage spills can reach and jam the locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the locking mechanism from the path of liquid flow by positioning it laterally offset from the guide groove. The claw extends through the guide groove to engage with the locking mechanism, which is located at a position not visible through the guide groove when viewed from the center. This separation removes the vulnerable locking components from the harmful liquid environment while preserving functional accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lateral offset positioning arrangement as an intermediary structure between the guide groove and the locking mechanism. The claw serves as a mediator that transmits the locking action from the movable floor to the locking mechanism without requiring direct alignment with the guide groove, thereby protecting the locking mechanism from liquid exposure while maintaining operational functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the movable floor is positioned deeper to accommodate long size containers, then the adaptability is improved, but the regular size container becomes difficult to take out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable floor with up-down movement capability that can be dynamically adjusted between different positions. The floor can be lowered to accommodate long size containers and raised to facilitate easy removal of regular size containers. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the cup holder to adapt to different container types while maintaining ease of operation for each specific case.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal cup holder design that can accommodate both regular size and long size containers through the movable floor mechanism. The same structural components serve multiple functions: the movable floor provides both depth adjustment for different container sizes and a lifting action for easy container removal, eliminating the need for separate designs for different container types.
3Device complexity
If the locking mechanism components are exposed to liquid spills, then the device structure remains simple, but the operational reliability deteriorates due to jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the locking mechanism components from the liquid exposure zone by positioning them laterally offset from the guide groove where liquid spills flow. This spatial separation removes the vulnerable components from the harmful environment without adding complex protective structures, maintaining structural simplicity while dramatically improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively positioning the locking mechanism out of the liquid flow path before liquid spills can reach it. The lateral offset positioning prevents liquid contact in advance, stopping the jamming problem before it can occur rather than attempting to mitigate it after the fact.
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 device effectively prevents operational failures by maintaining proper engagement and disengagement of the locking mechanism even if liquid spills, and facilitates easy removal of containers by preventing liquid from interfering with the locking mechanism, thus reducing spillage and operational issues.
Implementation Method 1
a movable floor biasing member spanning the housing member and the movable floor and configured to bias the movable floor upward
Implementation Method 2
a drain tubular member extending through the bottom member and the guide groove to an outside of the housing member
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage container holding device includes a housing member for housing a beverage container, a movable floor attached to the housing member for supporting a beverage container bottom, a movable floor biasing member for upwardly biasing the movable floor, and a movable floor locking mechanism for securing the movable floor at a predetermined height against the movable floor biasing member. The housing member has a guide groove, and the movable floor has a branch portion extending through the guide groove to an outside of the housing member, and a claw portion extending horizontally from the branch portion. The movable floor locking mechanism includes an annular member which is rotatably mounted below a bottom member, at least one column member extending upward from the annular member in parallel to the guide groove, and a lock piece integrally formed on each column member for suppressing an upper surface of the claw portion.