Adjustable Cup Holder Tray With Two-Position Latch Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holders lack a simple and effective mechanism for adjusting the height of the tray to accommodate beverage containers of varying heights, leading to instability and potential spills.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder design featuring a cylindrical holder body with a vertically movable tray, utilizing a lock member, guide groove, latch recessed portions, and energizing members to securely latch the tray at different heights, allowing for easy adjustment between two positions using an operation member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex mechanism is used to adjust the tray height, then the tray can be held securely at different heights, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into discrete latch positions (first and second latch recessed portions) along the guide groove, allowing the tray to be securely held at specific heights without requiring a continuous complex adjustment system. The lock member engages with these segmented positions to provide stable support.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock member is designed to automatically engage with the latch recessed portions through its own weight and the guide groove geometry, eliminating the need for additional actuators or complex control mechanisms. The operation member simply triggers the self-latching action through the inclined surface interaction.
2Device complexity
If a simple mechanism is used for height adjustment, then the device complexity is reduced, but the tray stability and security are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lock member incorporates a movable latch portion that can dynamically transition between engaged and disengaged states with the latch recessed portions. This dynamic capability allows a simple mechanism to achieve secure holding when engaged, while remaining easy to operate when disengaged through the operation member.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tray is designed to move vertically freely, then it can accommodate various container heights, but the tray becomes unstable and may cause spills
Solution Approach 1:
The guide groove is segmented with discrete latch recessed portions at different heights, allowing the tray to accommodate various container heights by selecting appropriate latch positions while maintaining stability when engaged at any given position.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock member serves multiple functions: it guides the tray vertically through the guide groove, latches the tray at different heights by engaging with latch recessed portions, and provides stable support when engaged. This multi-functional design enables both adaptability and stability.
4Reliability
If the lock mechanism requires significant force to engage, then the latch is secure, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring force to maintain the latched state, the inclined surface of the lock member is designed so that the engagement is self-latching through the interaction with the operation member. The operation member triggers the latch engagement by moving in the opposite direction of what would be intuitively expected, using the inclined surface to convert small operational movements into secure latching forces.
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 design provides stable and secure height adjustment of the tray, ensuring the beverage container is held at the optimal position, preventing spills and accommodating various container heights with a simple and effective mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a latch energizing member that energizes the lock member to a latch direction for latching the lock member with the first latch recessed portion or the second latch recessed portion
Implementation Method 2
a movement energizing member that energizes the tray from the first position toward the second position so as to vertically move the lock member of which latch with the first latch recessed portion has been canceled toward the second latch recessed portion through the guide groove
Implementation Method 3
a guide groove that is formed on a sidewall of the holder body and that enables the lock member to move in a perpendicular direction
Implementation Method 4
an operation member that cancels latch of the lock member with the first latch recessed portion by causing the lock member to turn to a cancellation direction opposite to the latch direction
Data Source
AI summary
A cup holder has a height adjuster that includes a lock member turnably held by the tray, a guide groove that is formed on a sidewall of the holder body and that enables the lock member to move in a perpendicular direction, a lower latch recessed portion and an upper latch recessed portion that are formed on a groove side surface which faces the guide groove on the sidewall and that cause the tray to be held at a lower position or an upper position by latching the lock member, a latch energizing member that energizes the lock member to a latch direction for latching the lock member with the lower latch recessed portion or the upper latch recessed portion, an operation member that cancels latch of the lock member with the lower latch recessed portion when the tray is located at the lower position, and a movement energizing member that energizes the tray upward.