In-Vehicle Cup Holder Knob Mechanism for Orientation Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional in-vehicle cup holders lack orientation control and tend to become loose over time, making it inconvenient for passengers to grasp the cup handle and requiring frequent reattachment.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle cup holder design featuring a cup holder housing with a rotation mechanism and serration system, including a knob mechanism with a spring, gear, and serrations, which allows for precise orientation control and self-locking to prevent looseness, comprising a cup holder foot support and knob member with a distraction and retraction mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cup holder is fixed to the position without orientation control mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates as passengers cannot conveniently grasp the cup handle
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder housing incorporates an asymmetric notched structure on its side wall, creating a unique orientation that guides correct insertion. This asymmetric design ensures the cup handle naturally orients toward the passenger without requiring complex active control mechanisms, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The notched structure is pre-formed on the cup holder housing during manufacturing, establishing the correct orientation before the cup is even inserted. This preliminary orientation guidance eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustment mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between operational convenience and device complexity
2Reliability
If the cup holder uses simple fixed structure without self-locking mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates as the cup holder becomes loose after long-time use
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder incorporates a self-locking mechanism where the knob member, when rotated, causes the foot support to expand outward through threaded engagement with the housing. This expansion creates frictional locking against the housing inner wall, allowing the cup holder to self-adjust and self-lock into position without requiring external fastening operations or complex active locking systems
Solution Approach 2:
The foot support transitions from a retracted state during insertion to an expanded locked state through rotation of the knob member. This dynamic adjustment allows the cup holder to adapt its locking force based on insertion depth and usage conditions, maintaining reliable positioning without requiring over-engineered static locking structures
3Reliability
If the cup holder requires periodic manual fastening, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of time increases due to maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The self-locking mechanism automatically maintains the cup holder in a secured position through the expansion of foot supports when the knob member is rotated. This eliminates the need for periodic manual fastening operations, as the mechanism continuously maintains its locking function without user intervention, thus eliminating maintenance time loss while ensuring reliable positioning
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 solution provides accurate orientation control and prevents looseness under adverse conditions, ensuring the cup holder remains secure and durable, enhancing user convenience and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a spring, wherein the gear is disposed in correspondence to the rack and disposed at a middle portion of the knob mechanism... the spring is mounted inside the mounting cavity, one end of the spring is in contact with a fascia on the knob upper case, the other end of the spring is in contact with the mounting cavity
Implementation Method 2
a gear, a rack... the gear is disposed in correspondence to the rack and disposed at a middle portion of the knob mechanism
Implementation Method 3
the first serration is disposed on an inner side wall of the knob cover plate... the second serration is disposed is disposed on each of two ends of the knob mechanism, the second serration is disposed in correspondence to the first serration, and the second serration is bi-directionally slidable on the track
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an in-vehicle cup holder and a combined in-vehicle implement including the in-vehicle cup holder. The in-vehicle cup holder includes: a cup holder housing, the cup holder housing being provided therein successively from bottom to top a cup holder foot support and a knob member; wherein the cup holder foot support is distracted and retracted under an effect of the knob member; and the knob member includes a knob lower case, a knob upper case disposed on the knob lower case, a knob cover plate, and a knob mechanism, wherein the knob mechanism is mounted on the knob upper case, and the knob cover plate is mounted on an inner side wall of the cup holder housing and is in contact with the knob mechanism.