Apparatus for holding drink containers
View Patent ↗A device for holding a drink container, such as a cup, mug or bottle, of different diameters in the interior of a passenger car includes a coupling device, into which a bottle holder or cup holder can be inserted and removed therefrom, on the center console or on a seat. Other containers, such as a refuse container or tray can also be inserted into the coupling device.
1. In a passenger vehicle that has first and second front vehicle seats, each having a frame carrying a seat cushion, and a center console arranged between the front vehicle seats and extending from a dashboard to a rear passenger space of the car, apparatus comprising:
at least one coupling device comprising a horizontally disposed arm having proximal and distal ends, with the distal end being supported on at least one of i) an end of the center console toward the rear passenger space, with the distal end of the arm projecting horizontally beyond the center console into the rear passenger space, and ii) a front side of at least one of said frames with the distal end of the arm, projecting horizontally forward of the seat cushion of said at least one of said frames and extending into a foot well; and
a drink receptacle; wherein
the drink receptacle has a spindle; and
the coupling device comprises a socket at its distal end for receiving the spindle, which is removably insertable into the socket from above.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, the coupling device supports the drink receptacle, pivotably about a vertical axis perpendicular to an interior floor of the vehicle.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the socket includes a spring with two legs that grip the spindle from two sides.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:
the spring has a spring wire that grips substantially around the spindle; and
the spindle has a plurality of slots running transversely to a longitudinal axis thereof, in which the spring wire engages in order to fix a location of the spindle.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the spindle has a slot running partially along the spindle, in which a spring of the socket locates.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drink receptacle comprises a cup-shaped drink container receptacle with a circular inside diameter and base.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the drink container receptacle has three tension springs for holding drink containers, the springs being situated about an inside wall of the drink container receptacle.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the tension springs are leaf springs, an upper end of which is fixed to the inside wall of the drink container receptacle, resting thereon or sunk therein, and a free, lower end of which is angled toward a central axis of the drink container receptacle, such that the leaf springs each have an inclined surface, which causes the inside diameter of the drink container receptacle to narrow towards a base thereof.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising:
an insert, which reduces an inside diameter of the drink container receptacle for holding small drink containers and is insertable into the drink container receptacle.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the insert has an inside diameter that narrows towards the base of the drink container receptacle.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the drink container receptacle has a catch device for holding the insert.
12. Apparatus for holding a drink container in a vehicle, comprising:
a supporting member comprising a horizontally extending first arm; and
a drink receptacle; wherein
at a proximal end thereof, the supporting member is fixedly mounted to a fixed component in an interior of the vehicle, with the first arm projecting horizontally into a footwell space in said interior of the vehicle;
at a distal end thereof, the supporting member has a coupling to which said drink receptacle is pivotably and removably mountable; wherein
said fixed component is one of a vehicle seat and a center console of said vehicle;
said drink receptacle has a space for receiving a drink container, supported by a second arm that is pivotably mountable to the coupling of the supporting member, at an end of said second arm that is opposite said space for receiving a drink container;
said coupling comprises a socket for receiving a spindle of the drink receptacle, which is removably insertable into the socket from above;
whereby a position of said space for receiving a drink container can be adjusted relative to said arm.