Rotatable Cup Holder Fastening for Dual-Height Console Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cup holders for motor vehicle central consoles lack a simple and robust mechanism for height adjustment to accommodate beverage containers of varying sizes, risking incorrect operation or damage during adjustment.

Innovation Solution

A cup holder design featuring uniformly shaped fastening elements positioned at different heights, allowing easy rotation to switch between two heights, ensuring secure and robust attachment to the console without protruding components, enabling easy adaptation to different beverage container heights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bases are inserted into the recess at different heights, then the cup holder can accommodate beverage containers of different heights, but the device complexity increases and the operation becomes more cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cup holder base is designed as a rotatable component with fastening elements at different heights. By rotating the base between two positions, the cup holder can be fastened at different heights without requiring multiple separate bases. This dynamic adjustment mechanism reduces structural complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A single cup holder base incorporates multiple fastening elements at different heights, allowing it to perform multiple functions by rotating to different positions. This eliminates the need for multiple separate bases, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining the ability to accommodate different beverage container heights.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bases are inserted into the recess at different heights, then the cup holder can accommodate beverage containers of different heights, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidadjustment simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable base design allows height adjustment through simple rotation between two positions rather than requiring insertion or removal of multiple bases. This dynamic mechanism significantly improves ease of operation while maintaining the ability to adjust to different heights.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the cup holder is made detachable for height adjustment, then the adaptability increases, but the reliability decreases due to risk of incorrect operation or damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidoperation safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening elements are designed with protective features that prevent incorrect operation or damage before such errors can occur. The uniform shape and positioning of fastening elements ensure proper engagement, reducing the risk of user error while maintaining detachability for height adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS20250010783A1Cup holder and method for adjusting the height of a cup holder

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

A cup holder for a central console of a motor vehicle, including a receiving body configured to be inserted in a recess of the central console for delimiting a receiving volume for at least one beverage container. The receiving body has a first fastener acting away from the receiving volume in a first direction for fastening to the central console and a second fastener acting away from the receiving volume in a second direction opposite to the first direction for fastening to the central console. The first fastener and the second fastener are positioned at different heights in a Z-direction and are substantially uniformly shaped.