Vehicle Cup Holder With Rotatable Support And Auxiliary Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cup holders for cars are unable to stably support cups of various sizes, leading to spills and accidents due to cups being released or falling, as they are designed with fixed-sized holes that do not accommodate different cup sizes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder design featuring a rotatable cup support and auxiliary support mechanism, where the cup support rotates within a storage tray, and an auxiliary support is drawn into or out of the storage space based on the rotation amount, ensuring stable support of cups through a combination of link springs, hinges, and an oil damper for speed adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size hole is formed on a console box to store a cup, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate cups of various sizes and the cup may be released or fall on a side
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder employs a rotatable cup support that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation to accommodate cups of various sizes. The support structure rotates around a vertical axis, allowing the holder to adapt to different cup diameters and shapes, transforming a static fixed-hole design into a dynamic adjustable system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup holder is divided into multiple functional segments including a rotatable cup support, an auxiliary cup support, a flap link mechanism, and a link spring. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together to solve the problem of accommodating various cup sizes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a rotatable cup support is installed in a hole to support cups of various sizes, then adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases with additional components like flap links and link springs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the cup support function with the auxiliary support mechanism into a single integrated assembly. The auxiliary cup support is coupled to the flap link, which is in turn coupled to the link spring, creating a combined mechanism that provides both primary and secondary support functions without requiring separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The link spring automatically adjusts the auxiliary cup support position based on the cup size and weight placed in the holder. When a cup is placed, the spring compresses and the auxiliary support rotates into position to provide additional support, eliminating the need for manual adjustment or complex control mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cup support rotates to accommodate different cup sizes, then versatility improves, but the stability of cup positioning may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary cup support is pre-positioned outside the storage space and rotates into place only when needed. This preliminary positioning ensures that the auxiliary support is ready to engage with the cup's outer lateral surface immediately when the cup is placed, providing stable support without compromising positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary cup support rotates around a hinge axis that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the main cup support. This rotation in a different dimension (horizontal vs. vertical) allows the auxiliary support to engage the cup from a different orientation, providing stable positioning through multi-dimensional support rather than relying solely on the main support's vertical rotation.
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 solution allows for the stable support and storage of various cup sizes, preventing spills and accidents by ensuring secure positioning of cups within the cup holder, even when the cup size differs from the holder's fixed dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
a flap link making a back-and-forth movement while compressing a link spring
Implementation Method 2
an auxiliary cup support having a lower end rotating around a hinge axis rotatably coupled to a flap housing
Implementation Method 3
the upper portion drawn into or out of the storage space depending on the amount of the back-and-forth movement of the flap link
Data Source
AI summary
A cup holder for a vehicle that stably supports a cup stored in a hole of the cup holder regardless of the size of the cup and prevents the beverage from spilling out of the cup with the cup stored in the hole released from the hole or falling on a side. Such cup holder comprises a storage tray, a cup support installed rotatably in one or the other direction in a storage space formed in the storage tray, a flap link making a back-and-forth movement while compressing a link spring, and an auxiliary cup support having a lower end rotating around a hinge axis rotatably coupled to a flap housing and an upper portion drawn into or out of the storage space depending on the amount of the back-and-forth movement of the flap link.