Spring-Loaded Vehicle Cup Holder for Variable Cup Sizes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holders for vehicles often struggle to provide sufficient force to securely hold cups of various sizes due to small surfaces in contact, and their design may be aesthetically unpleasing.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder design featuring two large, opposed spring-loaded side walls that provide a larger surface area in contact with the cup, reducing the force exerted on the cup and allowing for a more pleasing design. The side walls are movable between inner and outer positions, accommodating different cup sizes and providing a larger storage volume when locked in the outer position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If small supports are used to hold the cup, then the device complexity is reduced, but the contact surface area with the cup is insufficient and the holding force is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls are made movable and spring-loaded, allowing them to dynamically adjust to different cup sizes and shapes. This dynamic design enables the side walls to maintain optimal contact pressure and surface area engagement, resolving the contradiction between providing sufficient holding force and maintaining adequate contact surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded mechanism allows the contact parameters (force and surface area) to change adaptively based on the cup being held. The spring force can be adjusted to optimize both the holding force and the contact surface area, simultaneously improving both parameters that were previously in contradiction.
2Device complexity
If multiple small supports are used, then the structure is simpler, but the aesthetics and design quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder is segmented into two opposing spring-loaded side walls and two opposing fixed side walls, creating a balanced and aesthetically pleasing structure. This segmentation into functional zones (movable and fixed) improves both the visual design and the mechanical performance, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and aesthetics.
3Area of stationary object
If spring-loaded side walls are used to increase contact area, then the holding force is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded side walls are merged with the fixed side walls to form an integrated cup holder structure. This merging reduces the overall complexity by combining multiple functions (support, spring loading, positioning) into a unified structure, while still providing the benefits of increased contact surface area and improved holding force.
4Area of stationary object
If the side walls are positioned for small cups, then the contact area is optimized for small cups, but the storage volume for large cups is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded side walls can dynamically move between inner and outer positions to adapt to different cup sizes. When a large cup is inserted, the side walls move outward to accommodate it, maximizing storage volume. When a small cup is inserted, the side walls move inward to optimize contact surface area, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
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
The design effectively secures cups of various sizes with reduced force on the cup, enhances aesthetics, and provides a larger storage volume when needed, making it a more functional and pleasing cup holder solution.
Implementation Method 1
The two opposing, spring-loaded side walls may be movable between inner and outer positions, wherein the two opposing, spring-loaded side walls are biased towards the inner position by spring loading means of the cup holder
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c~1d
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cup holder (10) for a vehicle (100), wherein the cup holder comprises: two opposing, fixed side walls (12a-b); and two opposing, spring-loaded side walls (14a-b) adapted to support a cup (18), wherein the two opposing, fixed side walls and the two opposing, spring-loaded side walls define a generally cylindrical receptacle (16) adapted to receive the cup. The present invention also relates to a vehicle (100) comprising at least one such cup holder (10).