Cup holder for an automobile

Abstract

A cup holder comprising a pin formed on a tray and an arm with an inserting hole. The pin is inserted into the inserting hole with a silicon-rubber ring friction-fitted between the outer surface of the pin and the inner surface of the inserting hole. The arm rotates in a constrained manner with respect to the pin due to the friction of the silicon-rubber ring while an external force, lager than the friction between the silicon-rubber ring and the inserting hole of the arm, such as a forcible manipulation of the user is applying to the arm. When the external force to the arm is released, the movement of the arm is restricted by the friction of the silicon-rubber ring, so that the arm can firmly support a container.

1 . A cup holder for an automobile, comprising: 
 an opening formed in a passenger compartment of a vehicle for receiving a container;    a tray formed adjacent to the opening;    a pin protruding from the tray;    an arm having a concavely curved edge and an inserting hole, wherein the pin is inserted into the inserting hole and the arm is securely supporting the circumference of a container by rotation with respect to the pin; and    an elastic member, friction-fitted between an outer surface of the pin and an inner surface of the inserting hole, creating a certain amount of friction against the outer surface of the pin and the inner surface of the inserting hole such that the pin rotatably moves within the inserting hole only when the friction is overcome by a larger force.    
   
   
       2 . The cup holder in  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is a silicon-rubber ring.  
   
   
       3 . The cup holder in  claim 2 , wherein the silicon-rubber ring is made by integrally combining a plurality of single rings in a concentric manner in a vertical direction.  
   
   
       4 . The cup holder in  claim 1 , wherein the arm is provided with a plurality of hooks around the inserting hole and extending toward the tray, and the tray is provided with a plurality of arc-shaped slots around the pin for engaging with the hooks by snap-fitting, such that the arm is secured to the tray when the hooks are snap-fitted into the slots.  
   
   
       5 . The cup holder in  claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises: 
 a first supporting member rotating with respect to the pin of the tray;    a second supporting member rotating with respect to one end of the first supporting member; and    an elastic member;    wherein the first supporting member and the second supporting member are rotatably connected by means of a second pin and a second inserting hole, and a second elastic member is friction-fitted between an outer surface of the second pin and an inner surface of the second inserting hole, creating a certain amount of friction against the outer surface of the second pin and the inner surface of the second inserting hole such that the second pin rotatably moves within the second inserting hole only when the friction is overcome by a larger force.    
   
   
       6 . The cup holder in  claim 5 , wherein the second elastic member is a silicon-rubber ring.  
   
   
       7 . The cup holder in  claim 6 , wherein the second elastic member is made by integrally combining a plurality of single silicon-rubber rings in a concentric manner in a vertical direction.  
   
   
       8 . The cup holder in  claim 5 , wherein one of the supporting members is provided with a plurality of hooks around the second inserting hole and extending toward the other supporting member, and the other supporting member is provided with a plurality of arc-shaped slots around the second pin for engaging with the hooks by snap-fitting, such that the one supporting member is secured to the other supporting member when the hooks are snap-fitted into the slots.  
   
   
       9 . A cup holder for an automobile, comprising: 
 a pin;    an arm having an inserting hole, wherein the pin is inserted into the inserting hole and the arm is securely supporting the circumference of a container by rotation with respect to the pin; and    an elastic member friction-fitted between an outer surface of the pin and an inner surface of the inserting hole, creating a certain amount of friction against the outer surface of the pin and the inner surface of the inserting hole such that the pin rotatably moves within the inserting hole only when the friction is overcome by a larger force.    
   
   
       10 . The cup holder in  claim 9 , wherein the elastic member is a silicon-rubber ring.  
   
   
       11 . The cup holder in  claim 9 , wherein the arm is provided with a plurality of hooks around the inserting hole, and the arm is secured to the pin by snap-fitting the hooks to slots near the pin.  
   
   
       12 . The cup holder in  claim 9 , wherein the arm comprises: 
 a first supporting member rotating with respect to the pin;    a second supporting member rotating with respect to one end of the first supporting member, and an elastic member; and    a second elastic member;    wherein the first supporting member and the second supporting member are rotatably connected by means of a second pin and a second inserting hole, and the second elastic member is friction-fitted between an outer surface of the second pin and an inner surface of the second inserting hole, creating a certain amount of friction against the outer surface of the second pin and the inner surface of the second inserting hole such that the pin rotatably moves within the inserting hole only when the friction is overcome by a larger force.