Pivotable Cup Holder Assembly for Vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cup holders lack reconfigurability, limiting passenger flexibility in beverage container placement and accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable cup holder assembly with a pivotable second cup holder that can rotate about a pivot axis extending through the first cup holder, allowing for adjustment between side-by-side and fore/aft orientations, integrated with a support bar and pivot bracket for secure attachment and easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cup holders are integrated into a center console with fixed placement, then structural simplicity is maintained, but passenger flexibility and accessibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder assembly is designed with a pivotable connection between the cup holder portion and base structure, allowing the cup holders to dynamically change orientation from a first position (side-by-side configuration) to a second position (fore/aft configuration). This dynamic capability enables passengers to reconfigure the cup holders based on their needs, directly resolving the contradiction between adaptability and fixed structure.
2Ease of operation
If cup holders are fixed in a side-by-side configuration, then structural simplicity is maintained, but accessibility and ease of use are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot mechanism enables the cup holder portion to rotate between different orientations, allowing passengers to easily access and use the cup holders in various configurations. The ability to switch between side-by-side and fore/aft arrangements improves ease of operation by accommodating different passenger needs and vehicle conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable cup holder assembly for a vehicle comprises: (i) a base structure, and (ii) a cup holder portion pivotably coupled to the base structure about a pivot axis, the cup holder portion comprising a first cup holder and a second cup holder, each of the first cup holder and the second cup holder defining a space configured to hold a container for liquid, and the cup holder portion is pivotable about the pivot axis to, from, and between a first position relative to the base structure and a second position relative to the base structure; wherein, the pivot axis extends through the space of the first cup holder. The second cup holder can pivot greater than or equal to 75 degrees about the pivot axis when the cup holder portion moves from the first position to the second position.