Cup Holder Bumper Assembly for Variable Cup Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cup holders struggle to securely retain cups of varying shapes and sizes, leading to potential spills during vehicle operations like braking, accelerating, and turning.

Innovation Solution

A cup holder assembly featuring a compressible bumper with a contact portion and a tab that extends through a slot in the cup holder body, allowing the bumper to deform and securely hold cups of different sizes and shapes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rigid cup holder structure is used, then the structural strength is maintained, but the ability to accommodate cups of varying sizes and shapes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of varying cup sizes and shapesVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cup holder incorporates a compressible bumper that transitions from a rigid state during installation to a compliant state during cup retention. The bumper can dynamically adjust its hardness to accommodate different cup sizes and shapes while maintaining structural integrity through the tab-and-slot anchoring mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bumper's physical parameters (hardness, compressibility) are changed to resolve the contradiction. The bumper is designed to be compressible and deformable, allowing it to adapt to various cup geometries. The tab-and-slot connection provides a fixed anchor point while the bumper material itself changes its effective stiffness based on compression levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a compressible bumper is used to accommodate various cup sizes, then the adaptability is improved, but the retention security during vehicle maneuvers is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of varying cup sizes and shapesVSAvoidretention security during braking, accelerating, and turning

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retention mechanism is segmented into two functional parts: the tab (providing fixed anchoring) and the bumper (providing compliant contact). This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve adaptability through the compliant bumper and reliability through the fixed tab connection to the cup holder body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tab is pre-installed through the slot in the cup holder body before the bumper contacts the cup. This preliminary anchoring action ensures that when the cup is inserted, the bumper has a fixed reference point to compress against, providing immediate and secure retention even during sudden vehicle maneuvers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the bumper is made highly compressible to fit various cup shapes, then the ease of operation is improved, but the retention force is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of cup insertion and removalVSAvoidretention force

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The tab acts as an intermediary between the bumper and the cup holder body. It transfers and amplifies the retention force by providing a rigid anchoring point. When the cup exerts force on the compliant bumper, the tab transmits this force to the cup holder body, preventing the bumper from being pushed out while maintaining ease of cup insertion and removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution effectively accommodates a wide range of cup sizes and shapes, preventing spills during vehicle maneuvers by providing a secure grip through the compressible bumper's deformation.

Implementation Method 1

compressible bumper configured to deform to conform to an object, such as a container, cup, or vessel which has been disposed in the cup holder assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

compressible bumper including a contact portion and a tab extending from the contact portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12240369B2Cup holder assemblies and vehicles including same

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 TOYODA GOSEI CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein are assemblies for cup holders which include a cup holder body defining a receptacle, and a compressible bumper including a contact portion and a tab extending from the contact portion and through a slot formed in the cup holder body to retain the contact portion of the compressible bumper within the receptacle of the cup holder body. Further disclosed herein are assemblies for a vehicle including a center console and a cup holder assembly provided within the center console, the cup holder assembly including a cup holder body defining a receptacle, and a compressible bumper including a contact portion and a tab extending from the contact portion and through a slot formed in the cup holder body to retain the contact portion of the compressible bumper within the receptacle of the cup holder body.