Vehicle Cup Holder Link Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slidable cup holders in vehicles tend to cause the cup to separate from the holder when the seatback is rotated, leading to potential spills and safety issues due to the upward movement of the support coming into contact with the seat cushion during a walk-in operation.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder design featuring a holder body slidably coupled to the armrest, with elastically pivotable fingers and a locking mechanism that converts pivoting force into linear movement to lock the link, preventing the support from moving upwards when in contact with the seat cushion, thereby maintaining the cup's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the support is made vertically movable to accommodate the cup, then the cup can be securely held, but the support moves upward when contacting the seat cushion during seat rotation, causing cup separation
Solution Approach 1:
The support is designed to be vertically movable to adapt to different cup sizes and insertion depths, allowing the support to move downward when a cup is inserted and upward when needed. This dynamic capability enables the support to maintain secure cup holding while accommodating various operational conditions during seat rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
A locking member is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the support and the link. This locking member selectively locks the link to prevent upward movement of the support when the cup is properly inserted, while allowing upward movement when the cup is removed or improperly inserted. The locking member thus mediates between the need for support stability and the need for vertical movability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the link is allowed to pivot freely to enable support movement, then the support can adjust vertically, but the link pivots upward during seat rotation, causing the cup to separate from the holder
Solution Approach 1:
The link is designed to pivot freely under normal conditions, enabling the support to move vertically for cup insertion and removal. However, the locking member dynamically changes the link's degree of freedom by locking it in place when the cup is properly inserted, preventing unwanted upward pivoting during seat rotation while maintaining adaptability for vertical adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member acts as an intermediary that selectively constrains the link's pivoting motion. It engages with the link to prevent upward pivoting when the cup is inserted, while allowing free pivoting when the cup is removed. This intermediary mechanism reconciles the conflicting requirements of vertical adjustability and positional security.
3Ease of operation
If the fingers are made elastically pivotable to accommodate the cup, then the cup can be inserted easily, but the fingers cannot prevent the link from pivoting upward during seat rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holding function is segmented into two independent mechanisms: the elastically pivotable fingers for lateral cup accommodation and the locking member for vertical position control. The fingers provide ease of insertion by elastically pivoting to guide the cup in, while the locking member separately controls the link's vertical position, preventing upward pivoting during seat rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member serves as an intermediary mechanism that complements the elastically pivotable fingers. While the fingers handle lateral cup accommodation and insertion ease, the locking member mediates the vertical position control by preventing upward pivoting of the link during seat rotation, thus dividing the control functions between these two mechanisms.
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
Prevents the cup from separating from the holder even when the support comes into contact with the seat cushion during seat rotation, ensuring the contents remain secure and reducing the risk of spills or scalding.
Implementation Method 1
a spring, to exert an elastic force on the locking member
Implementation Method 2
coupled to the locking member by a gear structure configured to convert pivoting force of the finger into linear movement force of the locking member
Data Source
AI summary
A cup holder for a vehicle may include a holder body slidably coupled to a cup holder mounting portion in the vehicle, a finger elastically and pivotably mounted to the holder body, and configured to press and support a side surface of a cup inserted into the cup holder together with the holder body, a support connected to the holder body by a link such that the support is vertically movable in accordance with pivotal movement of the link, the support being configured to support a bottom portion of the cup, and a locking member disposed between the finger and the link, to lock the link, for prevention of pivotal movement of the link, or to unlock the link in linkage with pivotal operation of the finger.