Cup Holder Assembly with Movable Lower Cup and Flexible Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cup holder assemblies in vehicles fail to securely accommodate beverage containers of varying sizes due to limitations in adjustability of depth and inner diameter, which are prone to vibrations and movement.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder assembly featuring a stationary upper ring, a vertically movable lower cup, a flexible silicone sleeve, and an actuator with a gear mechanism that adjusts the depth and inner diameter by rotating the lower cup relative to the upper ring, utilizing a spring for biasing and a flexible sleeve that deflects inward to accommodate different container sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-depth cup holder is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate beverage containers of varying sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder employs a movable lower cup that can be adjusted vertically between a first position (deeper depth) and a second position (shallower depth) through an actuator mechanism. This dynamic adjustment allows the cup holder to adapt to different beverage container sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sleeve changes its inner diameter by deflecting inward when the lower cup moves upward, thereby adjusting the cup holder's inner diameter parameter to match different container sizes. This parameter change enables versatility without requiring complex mechanical structures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the inner diameter is fixed, then manufacturing is easier, but it cannot securely hold containers of different diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder incorporates a flexible sleeve made of elastomeric material that can deflect inward to reduce the inner diameter when the lower cup moves upward. This flexible component allows the cup holder to securely accommodate containers of different diameters while maintaining ease of manufacture through the use of a single-piece elastomeric structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cup holder depth is fixed, then the design is simpler, but it cannot securely hold containers of varying heights
Solution Approach 1:
The lower cup is designed to be vertically movable between a first position (for taller containers) and a second position (for shorter containers) through an actuator. This dynamic depth adjustment capability allows the cup holder to securely hold containers of varying heights without requiring a overly complex multi-component design.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid structure is used, then manufacturing precision is easier to achieve, but it cannot adapt to different container sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sleeve is made from an elastomeric material that can deflect inward to adjust the inner diameter. This flexibility compensates for variations in manufacturing precision while enabling adaptation to different container sizes, as the material can deform to match the specific dimensions of inserted containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup holder system changes its dimensional parameters (depth and inner diameter) through the movement of the lower cup and deflection of the flexible sleeve, allowing it to adapt to different container sizes without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
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 assembly securely holds containers of varying sizes by adjusting depth and inner diameter, ensuring stability during vehicle movements.
Implementation Method 1
a spring positioned between the actuator and the lower cup, the spring adapted to bias the lower cup away from the stationary upper ring
Implementation Method 2
the flexible sleeve is adapted to deflect inward when the lower cup is moved upward toward the stationary upper ring
Data Source
AI summary
A cup holder assembly includes a stationary upper ring, a lower cup vertically movable relative to the stationary upper ring between a first position and a second position, a flexible sleeve extending between an upper edge of the lower cup and a bottom edge of the stationary upper ring, and an actuator adapted to selectively move the lower cup relative to the stationary upper ring between the first and second positions, thereby simultaneously varying a depth of the cup holder assembly and varying an inner diameter of the cup holder assembly.