Adjustable beverage holder

Abstract

A holder for supporting an object in a vehicle includes a first support member. A second support member is movably mounted on the first support member about an axis. Each of a plurality of adjusting members define a contact surface for laterally supporting an object and has a first end movably connected to the first support member and a second end movably connected to the second support member. The adjusting members are substantially coplanar and transverse to the axis. Movement of the second support member relative to the first support member causes the adjusting member to move relative to both the first and the second support members.

1 . A holder for supporting an object in a vehicle, the holder comprising: 
 a first support member;    a second support member movably mounted on said first support member about an axis; and    a plurality of adjusting members, each adjusting member defining a contact surface for laterally supporting an object, each said adjusting member having a first end movably connected to said first support member and a second end movably connected to said second support member,    wherein said adjusting members are substantially coplanar and transverse to said axis, and    wherein movement of said second support member relative to said first support member causes said adjusting members to move relative to said first and said second support members.    
   
   
       2 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said holder further includes a locking mechanism for locking said second support member relative to said first support member.  
   
   
       3 . The holder according to  claim 2 , wherein the second support member is moveable between a plurality of locked positions.  
   
   
       4 . The holder according to  claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism is a ratchet assembly.  
   
   
       5 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said second support member frictionally engages said first support member.  
   
   
       6 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said second support member is rotatably mounted on the first support member.  
   
   
       7 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said second support member is rotatably mounted on said first support member about said axis, such that when said second support member is rotated in a first direction, the contact surfaces of said adjusting members move radially outward away from said axis, and when said second support member is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the contact surfaces of said adjusting members move radially inward toward said axis.  
   
   
       8 . The holder according to  claim 7 , wherein said second support surface includes a first opening having a first circumferential size, and wherein the contact surfaces of said adjusting members define a second opening, such that when said second support member is rotated in the first direction, said second opening has a second circumferential size, and when said second support member is rotated in the second direction, said second opening has a third circumferential size smaller than said second circumferential size.  
   
   
       9 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said first and second ends of each said adjusting member is pivotally connected to said respective first and second support members.  
   
   
       10 . The holder according to  claim 9 , wherein said one of said first and second ends of each said adjusting member is further slidably connected to said respective first and second support members.  
   
   
       11 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said first end of each said adjusting member is pivotally connected to one of said first and second support members, and wherein said second end of each said adjusting member is pivotally and slidably connected to the other one of said first and second support members.  
   
   
       12 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said holder further includes a biasing member disposed between said first support member and said adjusting members.  
   
   
       13 . The holder according to  claim 12 , wherein the first end of each said adjusting member is movably connected to said biasing member.  
   
   
       14 . The holder according to  claim 13 , wherein said first end of each said adjusting member is pivotally and slidably connected to said biasing member.  
   
   
       15 . The holder according to  claim 12 , wherein said biasing member is a spring.  
   
   
       16 . The holder according to  claim 12 , wherein said biasing member defines a substantially circular shape, and wherein one of said first and second ends of each said adjusting member is connected to said biasing member.  
   
   
       17 . The holder according to  claim 16 , wherein said one of said first and second ends of each said adjusting member is movably connected to said biasing member.  
   
   
       18 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said holder further includes a lower platform for horizontally supporting a lower portion of said object laterally supported by said contact surface of each said adjusting member.  
   
   
       19 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said adjusting member is substantially flexible.  
   
   
       20 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said adjusting member is substantially elongatable.