Vehicle Cup Holder with Rotatable Support and Release Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holders for vehicles are unable to securely accommodate cups of diverse sizes, leading to potential spills and accidents due to limited size compatibility and restricted rotation of the cup support member, which can result in the cup falling or becoming dislodged during movement.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder design featuring a rotatable cup support member with a release prevention member that prevents upward, downward, and lateral movement, allowing for unrestricted rotation and an adjustable button position for improved design flexibility, ensuring secure cup accommodation and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotatable cup support member is installed to accommodate diverse cup sizes, then adaptability is improved, but the cup support member may move or rotate excessively causing spills
Solution Approach 1:
The cup support member is divided into multiple segments that can rotate independently relative to each other, allowing the structure to adapt to different cup sizes while maintaining stability through controlled segmental movement rather than uncontrolled rotation
Solution Approach 2:
The cup support member is designed with dynamic rotation capability that allows it to move from a storage position to a support position, and includes damping mechanisms to control the rotation speed and prevent excessive movement, thereby maintaining reliability during operation
2Ease of operation
If the cup support member is allowed to rotate freely to support diverse cups, then ease of operation is improved, but the cup may secede from the groove or fall down
Solution Approach 1:
A damping element is introduced as an intermediary between the cup support member and the groove, serving as a mediator that allows the support member to rotate for ease of operation while simultaneously providing resistance to prevent excessive rotation and cup loss
Solution Approach 2:
A damping element is pre-installed in the groove to provide beforehand cushioning that limits the rotation range of the cup support member, preventing the cup from seceding or falling while still allowing sufficient rotation for operation
3Device complexity
If the button position is fixed in existing designs, then device complexity is reduced, but design freedom is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The button is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a release mechanism for the cup support member and as a positioning element that can be located at different positions around the rotating member, thereby providing design flexibility without significantly increasing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A cup holder apparatus for a vehicle may include an accommodating tray provided inside a vehicle compartment and having an accommodation space for accommodating a cup therein, a cup support member rotatably provided around a rotating shaft (Z axis) against the accommodating tray and including a bottom portion for safe-placing the cup in the accommodation space and a support portion formed in a stand from the bottom portion to support an outer periphery of the cup, and a release prevention member prepared separately from the cup support member and connected to the bottom portion of the cup support member, while being rotatably coupled to the accommodating tray, to prevent release of the cup support member from the accommodating tray, wherein the release of the release prevention member from the accommodating tray is hindered by an upper stopper formed on the accommodating tray while the cup support member is rotatably coupled to the upper stopper and is rotated around the rotating shaft.