Thin-Walled Cup Holder Hinge for Liquid-Resistant Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holders in vehicles are prone to malfunction and abnormal noise due to liquid or foreign matter adhesion at the hinge joint, and they struggle with smooth removal of containers with recessed parts, while also being costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder design featuring a thin-walled hinge joint and a bulging portion that contacts the container instead of the hinge, combined with a torsion coil spring for rotational biasing, reduces contact with the hinge joint and allows for smooth container insertion and removal, and is manufactured as a single-piece resin product to minimize parts and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hinge joint with shaft body and bearing is used to support the container, then the container can be stably supported, but liquid or foreign matter adheres to the hinge joint causing malfunction and abnormal noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the shaft body and bearing from the hinge joint, extracting the problematic components that accumulate liquid and foreign matter. The hinge joint is simplified to consist only of the thin-walled portion that can flexibly bend, eliminating the enclosed spaces where liquid adhesion causes malfunction and noise while maintaining the essential hinging function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a thin-walled portion made of flexible resin material to form the hinge joint. This thin-walled structure can bend and flex to provide the necessary hinging motion without requiring traditional mechanical joints with shafts and bearings. The flexible thin wall eliminates liquid accumulation zones while maintaining structural integrity and rotational capability.
2Reliability
If a hinge joint with shaft body and bearing is used, then the container can be supported, but the support member requires many component parts increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (shaft body, bearing, support pieces) into a single integrated support member made of resin. The support member includes the upper arm piece, lower arm piece, and thin-walled hinge joint as one unified component, eliminating the need for separate shafts and bearings while maintaining all necessary functions for supporting and moving the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses resin material to create a composite structure that combines the functions of rigid support pieces and flexible hinge joints in a single material. The resin can be molded to provide both structural rigidity where needed and flexible thin-walled portions for hinging, replacing traditional metal component assemblies with a unified polymer structure.
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 prevents malfunction and noise from liquid adhesion, ensures smooth removal of containers with recessed parts, and reduces manufacturing costs by using fewer components and improving durability through reduced contact with the hinge joint.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (4) that urges the arm (3) towards the initial position
Implementation Method 2
a thin-walled portion that forms a hinge joint (12) between a lower end of the upper arm piece (10) and an upper end of the lower arm piece (11), in such a manner that the hinge joint allows the arm to be moveable
Data Source
AI summary
A cup holder that can prevent malfunction and generation of abnormal noise due to adhesion of liquid or other foreign matter is provided. The cup holder (1) includes a holder main body (2) for accommodating a container therein, and arms (3) each including an upper arm piece (10), a lower arm piece (11), and a hinge joint (12) connecting a lower end of the upper arm piece (10) to an upper end of the lower arm piece (11). The arm is an integrally molded product made of a resin material, and the hinge joint (12) is a thin-walled hinge formed by a thin-walled portion thereof.