Finger Well Cup Holder for Vehicle Door Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cup holders are often inadequately placed or insufficient in number, leading to inconvenient and unstable placement of beverages, which can cause users to hold their drinks throughout a trip or reach uncomfortably for them.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder device with an upper and lower portion, where the lower portion fits into the interior vehicle door's impression, providing stabilization and allowing for creative placement of additional cup holders in unique locations, including the use of molded forms and pressure pads to secure the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional cup holders are installed in creative locations like finger wells, then the quantity and accessibility of cup holders is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for specialized lower portions and pressure pads
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder device is divided into an upper portion (receiving the beverage container) and a lower portion (engaging with the finger well), allowing each segment to be optimized for its specific function and enabling installation in unconventional locations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the finger well dimension (a previously unused space in the door panel) to place cup holders in new locations, transitioning from traditional center-console placement to multi-dimensional placement options throughout the vehicle interior
2Ease of operation
If cup holders are placed in unconventional locations like finger wells, then the convenience and accessibility for passengers is improved, but the stability of the cup holder may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lower portion is specifically designed with pressure pads having particular surface properties and geometric configurations that create localized stable engagement points within the finger well, ensuring stability at this specific installation location
Solution Approach 2:
The lower portion acts as an intermediary element between the cup holder and the finger well, providing a stable mechanical connection through pressure pads that distribute forces and secure the assembly in the unconventional location
3Reliability
If molded forms and pressure pads are used to secure the cup holder in the finger well, then the reliability of installation is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lower portion is pre-formed as a molded component with integrated pressure pads, allowing for reliable installation without requiring complex assembly steps or additional fastening operations during vehicle assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure pads are formed from materials with specific elastic and friction properties that provide reliable engagement, utilizing composite construction to achieve both manufacturability and installation reliability
Data Source
AI summary
Devices for holding beverage containers that can be used inside a vehicle or attached to a structure. In one example, a cup holder device for use in a vehicle may include an upper portion having a bottom surface, a peripheral rim offset from the bottom surface, and a side surface connecting the peripheral rim to the bottom surface. The peripheral rim defines an opening that is configured to receive a cup in the upper portion. A lower portion is coupled to the upper portion. The lower portion is configured to fit into a gap of an interior vehicle door, the impression typically formed by at least a first inside wall, a second inside wall, and an inside bottom surface. The lower portion may include a molded form configured to fit inside the impression of an interior vehicle door, or a spring-biased connector to attach to the impression.