Movable cup holder divider
View Patent ↗The disclosed embodiment provides a beverage container holder for a vehicle that utilizes a bin-like member having a floor and generally vertical walls defining a compartment with an opening at its top. A partition member extends across the opening of the bin-like member to divide the compartment into two parts, wherein the partition member is manually adjustable to a plurality of locations within the bin-like member to provide for the retention of beverage containers of various sizes.
1. A beverage container holder which can receive and support a plurality of beverage containers, comprising:
a bin containing a floor, four vertical side walls and an opening through which said beverage containers can be dropped into said bin for retention;
an adjustable partition member, being a unitary structure, that is manually movable to a plurality of positions within said bin to define separate areas for supporting beverage containers of varying sizes;
said bin contains a plurality of vertically disposed ribs spaced apart on a first side wall; said ribs each serve to locate said adjustable partition member at a corresponding rib position within said bin and said adjustable partition member having a first end containing a vertical channel for engaging one of said ribs at a corresponding rib position within said bin;
said bin contains stop elements disposed on a second side wall of said bin opposing said first side wall, wherein said stop elements are disposed in pairs that correspond to each position of said adjustable partition member, and said adjustable partition member contains a set of tabs extending from the lower portion of a second end opposite said first end for abutting a pair of said stop elements at each position within said bin;
said adjustable partition member is manually adjustable from one location corresponding to the location of a first rib to a different location within said bin by vertically lifting said member and relocating said vertical channel to align with a second rib and lowering said member to the location corresponding to the location of said second rib;
said partition member is held in place within said bin by friction engagements between said channel to a rib and said tabs to an abutting pair of stop elements;
said two ends of said partition member are formed to be approximately equal to the depth of said bin member and said ends are joined together by a web portion that is substantially shorter than the depth of said bin member to accommodate cup handles of said beverage containers; and
said web portion contains protuberances that function as a gripping portion to provide frictional surfaces for allowing said partition to be manually lifted from said bin.