Vehicle Cup Holder Elastic Insert Adaptability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cup holders for vehicles are inadequate in securely holding beverage containers with small diameters or non-round shapes, as they are prone to tilting due to design limitations and mechanics, which restricts their adaptability to various container sizes and shapes.

Innovation Solution

A cup holder with an elastic textile insert attached to a cup-shaped, cylindrical or conical receiving portion, featuring circumferential grooves and varying thicknesses to securely hold containers of different shapes and sizes, providing surface-contact and homogeneous force distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional retractable holding elements are used, then the cup holder can accommodate round-shaped beverage containers, but beverage containers having a relatively small diameter or non-round shapes cannot be securely held and are prone to tilt

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to various container shapes and sizesVSAvoidholding stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an elastic insert made of flexible material that can deform and adapt to different container shapes and sizes. This flexible element provides reliable holding for various beverage containers including those with small diameters and non-round shapes, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and holding stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic insert changes its physical parameters (shape, size) in response to different beverage containers. By allowing the holding element to dynamically adjust its parameters rather than being fixed, the system achieves both adaptability to various container types and reliable holding stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the receiving portion has a fixed diameter, then the structure is simple, but beverage containers having different sizes cannot be accommodated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different container sizesVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dynamic element (elastic insert) within the fixed receiving portion. This allows the internal holding structure to adapt its dimensions and shape according to the beverage container size, enabling accommodation of different container sizes while maintaining a simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cup holder is divided into two functional parts: a simple fixed receiving portion and a flexible elastic insert. This segmentation allows the complex adaptability function to be localized in the insert while the overall structure remains simple and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If holding elements are made rigid, then the structure is stable, but they cannot adapt to different container shapes and sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to container shapesVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic insert is made of flexible material that can deform to match different container shapes while maintaining structural integrity. This flexible yet stable element provides both adaptability to various container shapes and structural stability during vehicle operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The cup holder combines rigid structural components (receiving portion) with flexible elastic material (insert). This composite construction achieves both structural stability from the rigid frame and shape adaptability from the flexible insert.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 elastic insert adapts to various container shapes, preventing tilting and rattling, and accommodating a wide range of sizes from 40 mm to 105 mm, enhancing the holding capability for all commercially available beverage containers and other objects.

Implementation Method 1

the elastic insert is formed of a textile fabric having a defined elasticity, the elastic insert is configured for holding any type of beverage container securely, because the elastic insert is configured to adapt its shape to the shape of the beverage container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10479252B2Cup holder for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.11.19 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A cup holder may include a cup-shaped, substantially cylindrical or conical receiving portion having an open upper surface and a closed lower surface when disposed in the vehicle, the cup-shaped receiving portion being configured to receive a beverage container through the open upper face, and an elastic insert being attached to the cup-shaped receiving portion, the elastic insert being configured to hold respective beverage containers having a plurality of shapes and sizes.