Cup holder closure and release apparatus

Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier attached to dashboard

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C224S282000, C224S926000, C296S037120, C292S341170, C292SDIG004

Reexamination Certificate

active

06799705

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to a closure and release apparatus, and, more particularly to a closure and release apparatus that releasably locks a cup tray portion of a cup-holder in a stowed position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known for automobiles to include one or more cup holders of the type that include cup trays that a vehicle occupant can move between an upright stowed position to a horizontal deployed position—generally by rotating such a cup tray about a horizontal pivot. The cup tray portion of this type of cup holder generally includes a cup well shaped to receive and support a beverage container in an upright position when the tray is in the deployed position. It is also known for a cup holder of this type to include a closure and release apparatus that includes a latch supported on the cup tray and a latch receiver supported on a vehicle interior structure such as an instrument panel or trim panel. The latch and latch receiver are supported in positions on the cup tray and support bracket, respectively, so that the latch engages the latch receiver when the cup tray is moved to the stowed position. A passenger compartment occupant must then directly actuate the latch to release the cup tray from the stowed position.
“Push-push” latches for releasably locking structural elements together, where one of the elements is movably supported relative to the other element, are also well known. Push-push latches allow an operator to release one structural element from another structural element by applying and then releasing pressure on one of the structural elements and without having to directly manipulate the latch. A latch of this type, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,333 (issued May 2, 2000 to Wach) will typically include a guide pin supported on one of the structural elements and a labyrinth supported on the other of the structural elements. The labyrinth and guide pin are positioned on their respective structural elements such that the guide pin enters the labyrinth when the second structural element is moved to a stowed position adjacent the first structural element. The labyrinth includes a passage that directs the guide pin into engagement with a first labyrinth detent when the second structural element reaches the stowed position. The second structural element is locked in the stowed position when the guide pin is engaged in the first labyrinth detent. While the Wach patent discloses a labyrinth that is supported for transverse motion on one of the structural elements, other push-push latch systems are known to include fixed labyrinths and pivoting or laterally moveable “floating” pins. Relative transverse motion between labyrinth and pin allow a pin to move laterally within a labyrinth as the pin tracks through the labyrinth.
The mounting of the labyrinth and pin on respective structural elements requires that the pin leave the labyrinth when the structural elements are disengaged and move apart, and also allows high-impact re-engagement of the pin in the labyrinth when the structural elements are propelled or slammed together at a high rate of speed or with excessive force. This direct engagement the labyrinth and guide pin can reduce the service life of the latch. It also exposes the pin to inadvertent impacts and other stresses that might cause an exposed pin to break or plastically deform. An exposed pin can also present a homocogation problem in interior vehicle applications. In addition, mounting of the labyrinth and pin on respective structural elements also results in both the pin and labyrinth being visible to operators or occupants in interior vehicle applications. An exposed labyrinth is also more prone to contamination that can impede latch operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A swing-down cup holder closure and release apparatus is provided for releasably locking a cup tray portion of a swing-down cup-holder in a generally vertical stowed position, the cup tray being supported on an automotive tray support structure for motion between the stowed position and a generally horizontal deployed position. The apparatus comprises a latch configured to be supported on one of the cup tray and the tray support structure of the swing-down cup-holder and a latch receiver configured to be supported on the other of the cup tray and the tray support structure. The latch and latch receiver are supportable in positions on the cup tray and tray support structure, respectively, such that the latch engages the latch receiver when the cup tray is moved to the stowed position. The latch is configured to disengage and release the cup tray from the stowed position in response to a predetermined amount of pressure applied inwardly to the cup tray. This enables an automotive vehicle passenger compartment occupant to easily release the cup holder with a single pressing motion and without having to directly manipulate the latch.
According to another aspect of the invention, the latch includes a latch base panel supported on the tray support structure and a shuttle supported on the latch base panel. The latch base panel and shuttle are configured to cooperatively move the tooth between the engaged and retracted positions in response to successive applications of a predetermined amount of pressure to the shuttle.
According to another aspect of the invention, the latch base panel is formed with an instrument panel retainer as a single unitary piece.
According to another aspect of the invention, the shuttle is supported on the latch base panel for reciprocal linear motion between a forward position and an aft position. The shuttle includes a flexible extension that extends generally parallel to the direction of shuttle reciprocal motion and integrally connects a main body portion of the shuttle to the tooth. The shuttle also includes a crossbar that extends integrally and transversely from the flexible extension adjacent the tooth. The cross bar is supported on a ramp that extends integrally from the latch base panel. The cross bar and ramp are oriented such that shuttle movement toward the aft position causes the cross bar to ride up the ramp, bending the flexible extension upward and moving the tooth upward to the retracted position. Likewise, shuttle movement toward the forward position causes the cross bar to ride down the ramp, moving the tooth downward to the engaged position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the shuttle includes a push post that extends from a main body of the shuttle through a post slot in the latch base panel. The push post extends into a position to be engaged by the cup tray when the cup tray is in the stowed position. Inward pressure on the cup tray causes the tray to engage and move the push post forward, which moves the shuttle toward the forward position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the shuttle includes a floating guide pin supported for transverse reciprocal sliding motion in a transverse slot in the main body portion of the shuttle. The latch base panel includes a maze or labyrinth that includes walls extending integrally upward from an upper surface of the latch base panel. The labyrinth is configured to guide a lower distal end of the floating guide pin into engagement with forward and aft detents of the labyrinth. When the pin is engaged in the aft detent the pin retains the shuttle in the aft position. Likewise, when the pin is engaged in the forward detent the pin retains the shuttle in the forward position. The shuttle is biased aft to urge the pin into engagement in the respective detents.
According to another aspect of the invention, the labyrinth is configured to cause the floating guide pin to follow a circuitous path between an aft and a forward detent. When the cup tray, in the stowed position, is pushed forward, engaging the push pin and moving the shuttle forward, the floating guide pin is driven around the path to a position in the labyrinth where release of the cup tray and the aft bias of the shuttle will pull the pin aft into the forward detent. When the c

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