Integrally Molded Cup Holder Guide for Uniform Clamping Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cup holders have a high number of parts and assembly processes, leading to increased production costs and issues with noise and non-uniform operating force due to the use of separate components like springs and guides.

Innovation Solution

A cup holder design where the holder body, guide, and elastic adjustment body are integrally or monolithically formed through injection molding, reducing the number of parts and assembly processes, and providing a unified elastic restoring force for stable container support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate components (holder body, guide housing, guide, and spring) are used in the cup holder, then the guide can be elastically operated to support the container, but the number of parts and assembly processes increases, leading to higher production costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelastic operation of guideVSAvoidnumber of parts and assembly processes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the holder body, guide housing, guide, and spring into a single integrally formed component through injection molding. The guide is formed as a protrusion that can rotate about a hinge portion, and the spring is formed as an integrated elastic structure within the same component, eliminating the need for separate assembly of these parts while maintaining the elastic operation function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If separate components (holder body, guide housing, guide, and spring) are used in the cup holder, then the guide can be elastically operated, but the production costs and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelastic operation of guideVSAvoidproduction costs and manufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple components into a single injection-molded part, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly processes. The holder body, guide housing, guide, and spring are all formed in one manufacturing step, significantly reducing production costs and manufacturing complexity while maintaining the elastic guide operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a coil spring is used as the elastic member, then the guide can elastically protrude or rotate inward, but noise occurs due to the spring and friction between the slot and protrusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelastic restoring forceVSAvoidnoise due to spring and friction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional coil spring mechanical system with an integrally formed elastic structure that has built-in elasticity. The spring portion is formed as part of the same component as the guide, eliminating the mechanical interface between separate spring and guide parts that causes friction and noise. The elastic restoration is achieved through the material properties and geometric design of the integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If separate components are used with a slot and protrusion mechanism, then the guide can be guided to protrude or rotate, but friction between the slot and protrusion causes noise and non-uniform operating force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguide movement guidanceVSAvoidfriction between slot and protrusion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the guide and its guiding structure into a single integrally formed component. The hinge portion and rotation axis are formed as part of the same piece, eliminating the separate slot and protrusion interface that causes friction. The guide movement is still controlled and guided through the integrated hinge mechanism, but without the harmful friction and noise from separate mating parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design reduces manufacturing costs, minimizes noise, and ensures uniform operating force, enhancing the durability and aesthetic appeal of the cup holder by eliminating the need for separate assembly and optimizing the elastic adjustment body's material properties.

Implementation Method 1

the elastic adjustment body integrally or monolithically formed in the guide and the holder body so as to provide an elastic restoring force in order for the guide to elastically protrude

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10293733B2Cup holder and method of manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A cup holder may include a holder body having a holding groove opened at an upper portion thereof, and provided such that a container is inserted into the holding groove, a guide integrally or monolithically formed in the holder body with an elastic adjustment body interposed therebetween, so as to protrude inward from the holding groove, the guide tightly supporting a side of the container in a state in which the guide protrudes inward from the holding groove, and the elastic adjustment body integrally or monolithically formed in the guide and the holder body so as to provide an elastic restoring force in order for the guide to elastically protrude.