Cup Holder Supporting Members for Smooth Container Ejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cup holders struggle to accommodate containers with varied protrusion and recess patterns on their side surfaces, leading to difficulties in stable retention and smooth ejection, often resulting in interference with other components when the supporting members retract.

Innovation Solution

A cup holder design featuring one or two supporting members arranged in a circumferential direction, comprising a two-link structure with a first supporting piece and a second supporting piece, where the second piece slides and rotates to ensure the container is ejected laterally or from below, minimizing interference and adapting to diverse container shapes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single supporting member is used to support containers with protrusion and recess patterns, then the container can be retained stably, but the supporting member cannot retract fully without interfering with other components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestable retentionVSAvoidretraction distance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting member is divided into two separate supporting members that can move independently. This segmentation allows each supporting member to have optimized geometry for both stable retention and full retraction without interference with other components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the supporting member geometry is optimized for specific container shapes, then stable retention is achieved, but the cup holder cannot accommodate containers with different protrusion and recess patterns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestable retentionVSAvoidcontainer shape compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the single supporting member into two independent supporting members, the system can accommodate a broader range of container shapes and protrusion patterns while maintaining stable retention for each specific configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The two supporting members are designed to work together to provide universal compatibility with various container shapes and protrusion patterns, allowing the cup holder to serve multiple container types effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the supporting member retracts significantly from the receiving portion, then container ejection is enabled, but the supporting member interferes with other members around the holder

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer ejectionVSAvoidinterference with surrounding components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing the supporting member into two separate members allows each to retract to an optimized extent, enabling container ejection while minimizing interference with surrounding components through coordinated movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If the supporting member is designed with a fixed geometry, then manufacturing is simplified, but the cup holder cannot adapt to various container shapes and ejection requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupporting member fabricationVSAvoidcontainer shape adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting member is segmented into two separate supporting members, each with optimized geometry for specific functions. This segmentation balances manufacturing feasibility with the ability to adapt to various container shapes and ejection requirements through coordinated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables smooth ejection of containers with protrusion and recess patterns without significant interference, maintaining stability and adaptability to various container shapes.

Implementation Method 1

a biasing member that biases a linking portion of the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece to advance in a direction approaching a center axis of the holder main body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a second supporting piece having an upper end linked to be rotatable relative to a lower end of the first supporting piece, and a lower end arranged to be rotatable relative to the holder main body and slidable in an up and down direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9004332B2Cup holder

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 TOYODA GOSEI CO LTD

AI summary

A cup holder includes one or two supporting members that support a container inserted into a receiving portion of a holder main body, and is arranged in a circumferential direction of the holder main body. A container having the protrusion and recess pattern on a side surface can smoothly be taken out from the receiving portion with a low risk of the supporting members interfering with other members around the holder main body.