Supports – Brackets – Article holding means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-07
2001-05-22
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Article holding means
C224S926000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234438
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a holding device for a drinks container in a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to a holding device for a drinks container in an automobile having a first drinks container holder that is movable from a withdrawn initial position into a position of use and which is intended, in particular, for recessed mounting in the center console of the motor vehicle.
A holding device for a drinks container of this kind is known from German Patent Document DE 44 29 515 C1. The known holding device comprises a drinks container holder with an insertion opening for insertion of the drinks container, for example, a cup, a beaker, or a can of drink. The drinks container holder is arranged horizontally and is slidably guided vertically from a withdrawn initial position into a raised position of use. The drinks container holder is approximately in the form of a cube, the width of which is somewhat larger than the diameter of the drinks container to be held. The known holding device has the disadvantage that it requires a mounting space with a base area of a length and width larger than the diameter of the drinks container to be housed in it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to construct a holding device for a drinks container that can be recessed into the center console of a motor vehicle, so that it requires a mounting space with a small base area.
According to the invention the holding device for a drinks container in a motor vehicle comprises a first drinks container holder and means for pivoting the first drinks container holder from a substantially laterally oriented initial position into a horizontally oriented upright position of use.
The drinks container holder of the holding device according to the invention is arranged to pivot from a laterally oriented initial position into a horizontal, upright position of use, in which a drinks container can be inserted in an upright position into the drinks container holder. A laterally oriented initial position means that the drinks container holder is pivoted, relative to the position of use, through about 90° to one side, so that, in the initial position, one side (long side or narrow side) of the drinks container holder is positioned underneath and the opposite side is positioned at the top. A base or an underside of the drinks container holder stands vertically in the initial position. If the drinks container holder is of approximately cylindrical form, it is pivoted from the laterally oriented initial position with a horizontally oriented axis into the upright position of use with a vertically oriented axis.
To hold the drinks container securely in a motor vehicle while the vehicle is being driven, it is sufficient for a drinks container holder to have a height that is less than the diameter of the drinks container to be inserted. The drinks container holder can therefore be constructed with a height that is less than the width or the length of the drinks container or the diameter thereof. Pivoting into the laterally oriented initial position therefore requires a mounting space having a base area with a side length that is somewhat larger than the height of the drinks container holder (in the position of use). The required base area of the mounting space can consequently be reduced. A further advantage of the holding device according to the invention is that, in the withdrawn initial position of the drinks container holder, an upper opening of the mounting space for the holding device can be closed by the side (narrow side or long side) of the drinks container holder lying uppermost in the laterally oriented initial position. It is not necessary for the drinks container holder to lie horizontally in its withdrawn initial position, it can also lie obliquely, especially when the installation space available is oblique. The pivoting angle then differs from 90° in accordance with the inclination of the mounting space.
In one embodiment of the invention, the holding device has a slide displaceable vertically or obliquely between a lower and an upper position, on which the drinks container holder is mounted with the pivoting device. In this embodiment of the invention, the drinks container holder is displaced upwardly into its laterally oriented, withdrawn initial position and is subsequently pivoted into the upright position of use. This embodiment of the invention has the advantage that the pivoting movement of the drinks container holder takes place outside the mounting space, which means that there is no need for the mounting space to be enlarged for the pivoting movement, so that the mounting space can be kept small.
The pivoting arrangement can be in the form, for example, of a pivotal articulation with a pivoting axle. The pivoting arrangement can also be constructed with a lever mechanism or a curved guide.
In a preferred embodiment, the invention has a pivoting spring element, which pivots the drinks container holder out of the initial position into the position of use. In order to hold the drinks container holder in the initial position against the force of the pivoting spring element, a first locking device is provided. This can be unlocked manually. In an embodiment of the invention having the slide, the locking device is unlocked automatically when the slide reaches its upper end position.
To safeguard the drinks container holder from being accidentally pivoted out of the position of use, one embodiment of the invention provides a second locking device, which locks the drinks container holder in its horizontally oriented, upright position of use.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a spring element for the slide is provided, which displaces the slide upwardly from a lower position.
When the holding device is not in use, a locking device for the slide holds the slide in its lower position, in which the drinks container holder is located in its laterally oriented initial position. By unlocking the slide-locking device, the drinks container holder is automatically moved upwards and subsequently automatically pivoted into the horizontal position of use.
In another embodiment of the invention, the holding device has two drinks container holders, the second one of which is housed in the first drinks container holder so that, for example, it can be laterally pivoted out for use. If only one drinks container holder is required, the second drinks container holder can remain in the first drinks container holder.
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patent: 5228611 (1993-07-01), Yabuya
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patent: 5618018 (1997-04-01), Baniak
patent: 5692718 (1997-12-01), Bieck
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patent: 44 29 515 C1 (1995-11-01), None
Breunig Steffen
Kassel Armin
Nienhaus Ulrich
Notz Friedrich
Plocher Bernd
DeLuca J.
fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH & Co. KG
Ramirez Ramon O.
Striker Michael J.
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