Retractable Vehicle Cup Holder Assembly With Sliding Support Panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle cup holder assemblies occupy interior space when not in use, limiting alternative uses and increasing the footprint, which restricts their placement and utilization in vehicle armrests.
Innovation Solution
A retractable cup holder assembly design featuring a housing wrapped around the corner periphery of a vehicle armrest, with a slideable support panel and lever arm that moves between recessed and deployed positions, allowing for efficient storage and deployment, and utilizing a cam path, ramp, and cylindrical stop for retention, enabling the cup holder to be compactly housed when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the cup holder assembly is made retractable and stored within the housing, then the footprint is reduced and interior space is freed up, but the device complexity increases due to additional components like lever arm, support panel, and retention mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder assembly is nested within the housing when not in use. The support panel and lever arm are stored inside the housing, allowing the cup holder to be compactly housed and reducing the overall footprint while maintaining functionality when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup holder assembly transitions between static (recessed) and dynamic (deployed) states. The support panel is slideably coupled to the housing, allowing it to move between recessed and deployed positions, while the lever arm provides dynamic retention force through cam path engagement.
2Reliability
If the support panel is slideably coupled to the housing with retention mechanisms, then the reliability of the deployed position is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to the force required to overcome retention
Solution Approach 1:
The retention mechanism uses a cam path that provides dynamic retention force. The lever arm engages with the cam path to hold the support panel in the deployed position, and the retention force can be overcome by applying sufficient force in the opposite direction to retract the panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention function is segmented into distinct components: the cam path defined in the housing, the engagement member on the support panel, and the lever arm. This segmentation allows the retention mechanism to be integrated into the overall assembly without requiring a separate complex locking system.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle cup holder assembly that includes a body, and a housing that is wrapped around a corner periphery of the body. A support panel is slideably coupled to the housing and includes a first member and a second member. The support panel is operable between a recessed position and a deployed position, wherein the support panel is configured to receive a container in the deployed position. A lever arm is coupled to the support panel, wherein the lever arm is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the lever arm is configured to support a base of the container in the extended position, and wherein the lever arm is stored within the side portion of the housing in the retracted position.