Granted Patent B2

US 12,280,705 · App. 18/237,940 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Inventors: Bernd Gayer (Weissach, DE); Marc-Lieven Heth (Karlsruhe, DE); Michael Alborg (Gerlingen, DE)

B60N3/108B60N3/106

Abstract

Claims (18)

1. A beverage holder ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a receptacle ( 2 ) having a bottom wall ( 3 ), a side wall ( 5 ) extending from the bottom wall ( 3 ) and an open top ( 4 ) arranged upward from the bottom wall ( 3 ), plural openings ( 8 ) penetrating the side wall ( 5 ) at circumferentially spaced positions around the side wall ( 5 ); and

an elastic covering ( 10 ) surrounding at least parts of the side wall ( 5 ) and penetrating the plural openings ( 8 ) due to inherent resiliency of the elastic covering ( 10 ), parts of the elastic covering that penetrate the plural openings forming plural elastic compensation elements ( 7 ) for holding differently sized drinking vessels ( 6 ), the elastic covering ( 10 ) being connected to the receptacle ( 2 ) at plural connection locations ( 18 , 19 , 20 ) wherein the plural connection locations ( 18 , 19 , 20 ) comprise at least one first connection location ( 19 ) disposed below the open top ( 4 ) and above the plural openings ( 8 ) and at least one second connection location ( 20 ) disposed below the plural openings ( 8 ).

2. The beverage holder ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the plural connection locations ( 18 , 19 , 20 ) further comprise at least one third connection location ( 20 ) disposed at the bottom wall ( 3 ).

3. The beverage holder ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the elastic covering ( 10 ) is connected to the side wall ( 5 ) of the receptacle ( 2 ) by staking.

4. The beverage holder ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the elastic covering ( 10 ) is connected to the side wall ( 5 ) of the receptacle ( 2 ) by a positive-locking connection.

5. The beverage holder ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the side wall ( 5 ) and the bottom wall ( 3 ) of the receptacle ( 2 ) are integral with one another.

6. The beverage holder ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall ( 3 ) of the receptacle ( 2 ) is circular.

7. The beverage holder ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall ( 3 ) of the receptacle ( 2 ) is polygonal.

8. The beverage holder ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the side wall ( 5 ) of the receptacle ( 2 ) has a tapered shape that defines larger cross-sections at greater distances from the bottom wall ( 3 ).

9. The beverage holder ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the elastic covering ( 10 ) is formed from a textile fabric.

10. The beverage holder ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein each of the plural openings ( 8 ) is elliptical.

11. A method for manufacturing a beverage holder ( 1 ), comprising:

providing a receptacle ( 2 ) having a bottom wall ( 3 ), a side wall ( 5 ) extending from the bottom wall ( 3 ) and an open top ( 4 ) opposite the bottom wall ( 3 ), the side wall ( 5 ) tapering outward at farther distances from the bottom wall ( 3 ) and having plural openings formed through the side wall ( 5 );

unrolling the elastic covering ( 10 ) from a tube and moving the elastic covering ( 10 ) over the side wall ( 5 );

fixing the elastic covering ( 10 ) to the receptacle ( 2 ) at first regions ( 16 ) disposed on the side wall ( 5 ) between the openings ( 8 ) and the open top ( 4 );

fixing the elastic covering ( 10 ) to the receptacle ( 2 ) in a second region ( 17 ) disposed on the side wall ( 5 ) below the openings ( 8 ) and/or in a third region ( 18 ) disposed on the bottom wall ( 3 ) of the receptacle ( 2 ), wherein

portions of the elastic covering ( 10 ) that align with the openings penetrate into the openings due to inherent biasing of the elastic covering.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (40)