Vehicle Cup Holder Textile Retention for Even Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage holders for motor vehicles often have complex mechanical compensation elements that require multiple parts and complex mounting, leading to uneven force distribution on drinking vessels of varying sizes and shapes.

Innovation Solution

A beverage holder with a textile or elastomeric plastic elastic compensation element that adapts to the shape of the drinking vessel, providing secure retention and homogeneous force distribution without the need for complex assembly or multiple parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical compensation elements are used, then drinking vessels can be secured, but the structure becomes complex with multiple parts and complex mounting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring of drinking vesselsVSAvoidcomplexity of compensation element

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an elastic covering made of flexible material that can be pulled over the side wall of the receptacle. This flexible shell adapts to different drinking vessel sizes and shapes while maintaining a simple single-piece structure, eliminating the need for complex mechanical compensation elements with multiple parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If mechanical compensation elements are used, then drinking vessels can be held, but mounting becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholding of drinking vesselsVSAvoidmounting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic covering is designed as a simple flexible shell that can be easily mounted by pulling it over the side wall of the receptacle. This eliminates complex assembly procedures and makes manufacturing straightforward, while still providing reliable holding of drinking vessels through its elastic properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If mechanical compensation elements are used, then drinking vessels can be secured, but force distribution becomes uneven

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring of drinking vesselsVSAvoidforce distribution on drinking vessel

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic covering acts as a flexible membrane that conforms to the shape of the drinking vessel and distributes retention force uniformly across the contact surface. This eliminates the uneven force distribution problem associated with rigid mechanical compensation elements that contact the vessel at discrete spaced points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Device complexity

If elastic covering is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different vessel sizes must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of compensation elementVSAvoidadaptability to different drinking vessel sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic covering's key property is its elasticity, which allows it to change its dimensional parameters (radius, shape) to adapt to different drinking vessel sizes. This single parameter change capability enables the simple structure to accommodate various vessel dimensions while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 beverage holder effectively secures drinking vessels of different sizes and shapes, ensuring they do not slip during travel, while reducing weight and avoiding potential weaknesses through an integral receptacle design.

Implementation Method 1

An elastic covering (10) penetrates the opening (8) due to its inherent biasing and thereby forms the elastic compensation element (7). Due to its elastic properties, the elastic covering (10) can be pulled over the outer area of the side wall (5).

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The elastic compensation element engages the drinking vessel to avoid slipping of the drinking vessel during travel.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

The contact surfaces ensure a homogeneous distribution of force on rounded drinking vessels. The retaining force applied to the drinking vessel is adjustable via the selection and design of the material.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNormal force: Force

Data Source

PatentUS12280705B2Beverage holder with textile compensation elements

Publication Date: 2025.04.22 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

A beverage holder (1) for a motor vehicle has a receptacle (2) with a side wall (5) extending from a bottom wall (3) to an open top (4) that is farther upward. At least one elastic compensation element (7) is provided for holding differently sized drinking vessels (6). The side wall (5) has at least one opening (8), and an elastic covering (10) penetrates the opening (8) due to its biasing to form the elastic compensation element (7).