Electric-powered mechanical cup holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cup holders are unable to stably support and accommodate containers of various sizes and shapes due to fixed dimensions, leading to instability and difficulty in accessing the container during vehicle use.
Innovation Solution
An electric-powered mechanical cup holder with an elevation device that includes a base plate, movable parts, and an elevation link system, allowing vertical adjustment of the container's height using a driving motor, lead screw, and transfer parts to stabilize and position the container based on its size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size cup holder is used, then the structure is simple, but containers of various sizes cannot be stably supported
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder employs a base plate that can move vertically between multiple predetermined positions, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. This allows the cup holder to adapt to various container sizes while maintaining structural integrity through controlled movement rather than complex reconfiguration
Solution Approach 2:
The elevation mechanism is divided into discrete components including the base plate, elevation links, and motor-driven screw mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function while collectively enabling height adjustment, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-depth cup holder is used, then the structure is simple, but containers of various depths cannot be properly accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate's vertical movement capability transforms the fixed-depth limitation into a dynamic adjustment system. The base plate can be elevated to different heights based on container depth requirements, providing adaptability without requiring multiple separate cup holder structures
Solution Approach 2:
The elevation links act as intermediary mechanical elements that transfer motion from the motor-driven screw mechanism to the base plate. This intermediary mechanism enables smooth, controlled height adjustment while isolating the complexity of the drive mechanism from the cup holder structure itself
3Reliability
If the cup holder size is fixed, then manufacturing is simple, but stability for various container sizes is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable base plate provides dynamic adaptation to different container sizes and weights, ensuring stable support through position optimization rather than through over-engineering the structure. The system maintains reliability by allowing the support surface to be positioned optimally for each container
4Ease of operation
If an adjustable height mechanism is added, then container accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation mechanism is designed to be automatically controllable through a simple user interface, with the motor-driven system self-regulating the base plate position. This reduces the operational complexity for users while maintaining the mechanical adjustment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical adjustment system is replaced with an electrically-driven screw mechanism controlled by a motor. This substitution reduces the mechanical complexity visible to the user while providing precise, easy-to-control height adjustment through electrical actuation
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 cup holder provides stable support and easy access to containers of varying sizes by adjusting their height, enhancing user convenience and safety during vehicle use.
Implementation Method 1
a lead screw configured to receive the rotational force of the driving motor so as to rotate; transferring parts threaded to the lead screw and configured to linearly move when the lead screw rotates
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an electric-powered mechanical cup holder capable of elevating an accommodated container in a vertical direction. Disclosed is an electric-powered mechanical cup holder, including: a housing having a hollow hole for accommodating a container in an inside thereof; and an elevation device provided in a lower portion of the housing and configured to elevate or lower the container in a vertical direction. With this configuration, advantageous effects of improving convenience of a user can be obtained, since the cup holder is provided with an elevation device capable of elevating the accommodated container in the vertical direction, and adjusting a height of the container corresponding to a size of the container.