Semi-Automatic Cup Holder With Link Spring Retraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holders in vehicles, particularly those mounted in armrests, face challenges in securing a sufficient vertical length for cup support due to the limited thickness of the armrest, and users encounter inconvenience when retracting the cup holder as continuous force application is required.
Innovation Solution
A semi-automatic cup holder design that includes a first and second support part rotatably disposed to assume non-use or use positions, with a link spring connected to sliders that compress and expand to automatically complete the movement of the cup holder when a user initiates the process, ensuring full deployment or retraction with minimal user effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cup holder is mounted in an armrest with limited thickness, then the device can be installed in space-constrained locations, but the vertical length available for cup support is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder is divided into multiple support parts (first support part, second support part, third support part) that can be independently positioned along the vertical axis. This segmentation allows the cup holder to achieve sufficient total vertical length for cup support while maintaining a compact installation footprint within the limited armrest thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The support parts are arranged in a vertical stacking configuration, utilizing the vertical dimension to accumulate sufficient cup support length. The link spring mechanism provides vertical displacement of these support parts, effectively transforming the limited horizontal installation space into adequate vertical functional space.
2Ease of operation
If the cup holder is designed to fully retract into the armrest, then the aesthetic appearance and space utilization are improved, but continuous user force application is required for retraction
Solution Approach 1:
The link spring is pre-compressed during the initial manual retraction movement, storing elastic potential energy. This preliminary action by the user compresses the spring, which then automatically expands to complete the retraction process without requiring continuous user force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The link spring mechanism provides self-service by automatically completing the retraction action after initial user initiation. The spring's elastic recovery force continues the retraction motion without additional user input, allowing the cup holder to fully retract autonomously after the user starts the process.
3Device complexity
If a manual retraction mechanism is used, then the structure can be simple, but the user must continuously apply force until full retraction is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The link spring acts as an intermediary element between the user's initial manual input and the cup holder's full retraction. It mediates the force transmission, converting brief user action into sustained retraction motion through elastic energy storage and release, thereby reducing the overall operational effort required.
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 semi-automatic cup holder effectively addresses the issue of limited vertical space in armrest-mounted cup holders by deploying the support parts to secure the cup, and reduces user effort in opening and closing the cup holder through the automatic movement mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the link spring is configured to be compressed as movement of the first slider and the second slider along the given axis is begun, and wherein the link spring is configured to expand after reaching a fully compressed state such that expansion of the link spring continues the movement of the first slider and the second slider along the given axis
Data Source
AI summary
A cup holder is disclosed. The cup holder includes a first support part and a second support part configured to accommodate a cup and rotatably disposed to assume a non-use position or a use position, a first slider configured to be movable along a given axis by rotation of the first support part, a second slider configured to be movable along the given axis by rotation of the second support part; and a link spring connected to the first slider and the second slider and configured to be rotated when the first slider and the second slider are moved along the given axis.