Cup holder

Abstract

A cup holder unit includes an outer case, an inner case slidable between a pulled-out position and a stored position, a main holder member slidable between a usable position and a non-usable position, and a connecting member pivotally supported on the inner case. The connecting member has an abutment section to abut against a corresponding section of the main holder member halfway through pulling of the main holder member from the non-usable position so that the main holder member can be pulled out together with the inner case, and a tab to engage a notched section when the inner case is substantially fully pulled out to the pulled-out position. A disengaging abutment section is formed at the connecting member to disengage the tab from the notched section by abutting against the corresponding section halfway through pushing the main holder member from the usable position to the non-usable position.

1 . A cup holder unit comprising: 
 an outer case having a front opening and a notched section formed at a front side thereof,    an inner case having a front opening and slidable between a pulled-out position where the inner case is projected forward from the front opening of said outer case and a stored position where the inner case is stored in the outer case,    a main holder member slidable between a usable position where the main holder member is pulled out forward from the front opening of said inner case and a non-usable position where the main holder member is stored in said inner case,    a connecting member pivotally supported on said inner case, and having an abutment section formed at a front side thereof to abut against a corresponding section of said main holder member halfway through pulling of said main holder member from the non-usable position while said inner case is in the stored position so that said main holder member can be pulled out together with the inner case, a tab formed at the front side to engage said notched section when said inner case is substantially fully pulled out to the pulled-out position, and a disengaging abutment section disposed in a rear side thereof to disengage said tab from said notched section by abutting against the corresponding section of the main holder member halfway through pushing said main holder member from the usable position to the non-usable position, and    a spring member to bias said connecting member in a direction of engaging said tab with said notched section.    
   
   
       2 . A cup holder unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said outer case has a guide slot, and said inner case has a projection fitted with the guide slot, said inner case being restricted from sliding from the pulled-out position to the stored position while said tab is engaged with said notched section and being restricted from sliding further forward from the pulled-out position while said projection abuts against the front end of said guide slot.  
   
   
       3 . A cup holder unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said corresponding section is a wall formed in the main holder member, said wall engaging the abutment section when said main holder member is pulled from the non-usable position, and pushing the disengaging abutment section when the main holder member is moved to the non-usable position.  
   
   
       4 . A cup holder unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said main holder member includes a supporting device with a recess for supporting a container, a sub-holder pivotally supported by the supporting device to practically change a diameter of a holder hole in the supporting device, and a spring attached to the sub-holder for pushing the sub-holder toward an inside of the holder hole, said recess having a size so that the sub-holder is substantially completely located in the recess and becomes flush with a surface of an inner wall of the supporting device when turned downward.  
   
   
       5 . A cup holder unit comprising: 
 an outer case having a front opening,    an inner case slidable between a pulled-out position where the inner case is projected forward from the front opening of said outer case and a stored position where the inner case is stored in said outer case, and    a main holder member slidable between a usable position where the main holder member is pulled out forward from the front opening of said inner case and a non-usable position where the main holder member is stored in said inner case, said main holder member including a supporting device with a recess for supporting a container, a sub-holder pivotally supported by the supporting device to practically change a diameter of a holder hole in the supporting device, and a spring attached to the sub-holder for pushing the sub-holder toward the holder hole, said recess having a size so that the sub-holder is substantially completely located in the recess and becomes flush with a surface of an inner wall of the supporting device when turned downward.    
   
   
       6 . A cup holder unit as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said supporting device includes a platform to receive a bottom of the container, and a side supporter for defining the holder hole for the container and supporting a periphery of the container, said recess being formed in the side supporter.  
   
   
       7 . A cup holder unit as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said sub-holder is positioned within said holder hole and tilted slightly upward above a horizontal position when not subjected to a downward load, and has a guide rib projecting in a surface near a tip end thereof to prevent the container from getting caught.  
   
   
       8 . A cup holder unit as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said main holder member has an open-sided vertical hole disposed above said platform to support a portion of the container and a pivotally supported side supporter biased in a direction to open sidewise to form said holder hole in conjunction with said vertical hole, said sub-holder being installed to said side supporter.