Cupholder assembly

Abstract

A cupholder assembly for securing a container includes a plurality of gripping members mounted for movement between a retracted position and extended position engaging a side surface of the container in such extended position. A first gear is attached to each gripping member for rotation therewith. A second gear engageable with each first gear has a surface engageable with the bottom portion of the container for transferring torque generated during insertion of the container to each first gear and then to each gripping member for applying force to the container. A ratchet is provided to secure the second gear upon insertion of the container and maintain continuous engagement between each gripping member and the container. A release spring is provided for disengaging the ratchet and for moving the gripping members into the retracted position with the aid of a bias spring engageable with each gripping member. Alternatively, the first and second gears are replaced with a plate like member having a plurality of elongated slots each engageable with a respective gripping member to guide rotation thereof and transfer the torque thereto.

1 . A cupholder assembly for securing a container therein, said cupholder assembly comprising: 
 (a) a predetermined plurality of gripping means disposed in a predetermined pattern and mounted for movement between extended and retracted positions, said extended position is characterized by engagement of a predetermined portion of each gripping means with a side surface of such container;    (b) a predetermined plurality of first torque transmitting means each axially connected to a respective one of said predetermined plurality of grip means for rotation therewith,    (c) a second torque transmitting means engageable with each of said first torque transmitting means and. mounted for movement between a first and a second position, said second torque transmitting means having a horizontally disposed first surface for engagement with a bottom surface of such container, said second torque transmitting means movable into said second position upon application of a predetermined torque to said first surface enabling said second transmitting means to transfer said predetermined torque first to said first transmitting means and then to each of said gripping means for moving said predetermined portion thereof into said extended position engaging such side surface of such container and applying a predetermined force thereto, said predetermined force securely retaining such container within said cupholder assembly; and    (d) means engageable with one of said second torque transmitting means, at least one of said first torque transmitting means, at least one of said predetermined plurality of gripping means, a rigid structure, and various combinations thereof for enabling continuous engagement of each of said gripping means with such side surface of such container upon inserting it into said cupholder assembly and for enabling movement of each of said gripping means into said retracted position upon removal of such container from said cupholder assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said predetermined plurality of gripping means includes: 
 (a) a vertically disposed shaft portion mounted for rotation about said rigid structure and having a first end extending through and attached to said respective one of said predetermined plurality of first torque transmission means; and    (b) a generally horizontally disposed arm portion having a predetermined shape and rigidly attached to said shaft portion adjacent a second end thereof for rotation between said extended and said retracted position, said arm portion having a distal end configured for engagement with such side surface of such container.    
   
   
       3 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 2 , wherein said cupholder assembly includes a predetermined plurality of biasing means each engageable with said arm portion of each of said gripping means for biasing them towards said retracted position.  
   
   
       4 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein said cupholder assembly includes an anti-slip frictional means applied to at least one of said first surface of said second transmission means, said predetermined portion of each of said gripping means, and a combination thereof for preventing one of a lateral movement, vertical movement, and combination thereof of such container disposed within said cupholder assembly.  
   
   
       5 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein said movement of said second torque transmitting means from said first position into said second position is characterized in combination by said second torque transmitting means moving downwardly and rotating in a first direction and said predetermined portion of each of said gripping means engaging such side surface of such container.  
   
   
       6 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 5 , wherein said engagement and release enabling means includes: 
 (a) a predetermined plurality of slopping teeth attached to a predetermined portion of said second torque transmitting means;    (b) a lock pawl attached to said rigid structure and engageable with a portion of said slopping teeth during said movement of said second torque transmitting means from said first position into said second position for positively maintaining said second torque transmitting means in said second position; and    (c) a release means engageable with at least one of said predetermined plurality of slopping teeth, said lock pawl, said rigid surface and various combinations thereof for disengaging said slopping teeth from said lock pawl upon removal of such container and for urging said second transmitting means into said first position.    
   
   
       7 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 6 , wherein said release means is a bias spring.  
   
   
       8 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said predetermined plurality of said first torque transmitting means is a first gear having each of a predetermined thickness and predetermined diameter.  
   
   
       9 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein each second torque transmitting means is a second gear having each of a predetermined thickness and predetermined diameter, whereby said predetermined thickness of said second gear enables continuous engagement thereof with each of said predetermined plurality of first transmitting means during movement of said second torque transmitting means between said first and said second position.  
   
   
       10 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined torque is applied by one of a hand actuator, a power actuator and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein said cupholder assembly further includes a cover member having a vertically aligned first aperture for receiving such container and a predetermined plurality of second apertures disposed in a wall portion of said first aperture each aligned with a respective one of said gripping means for enabling passage thereof for one of said engagement and said disengagement with such container, said wall portion extending towards said first surface of said second torque transmitting means.  
   
   
       12 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein said second transmitting means includes a peripheral flange having a predetermined height for containing spillage during use of such container.  
   
   
       13 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein said cupholder assembly further includes means for sensing one of an insertion, removal and combination thereof of such container into said cupholder assembly.  
   
   
       14 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 13 , wherein said sensing means includes one of a contact sensor, non-contact sensor and a combination thereof capable of providing at least one control signal to an actuating means connected with said second torque transmitting means.  
   
   
       15 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 14 , wherein said cupholder assembly includes control means for receiving said at least one control signal and operating said actuating means in response to receiving said at least one control signal.  
   
   
       16 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein said cupholder assembly includes an actuating means connected to said second torque transmitting means for one of applying said predetermined torque, enabling continuous engagement of each of said gripping means with such side surface of such container, moving each of said gripping means into said retracted position, and various combinations thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein said cupholder assembly is adapted for use in a vehicle in one of a stationary and slidable configuration.  
   
   
       18 . A cupholder assembly for securing a container therein, said cupholder assembly comprising: 
 (a) a predetermined plurality of gripping means disposed in a predetermined pattern and mounted for movement between an extended and retracted positions, said extended position is characterized by engagement of a predetermined portion of each of said gripping means with a side surface of such container;    (b) a torque transmitting means mounted for movement between a first position and a second position, said torque transmitting means having a horizontally disposed first surface for engagement with a bottom surface of such container and with each of said gripping means, said torque transmitting means movable into said second position upon application of a predetermined torque to said first surface for transferring said predetermined torque to each of said gripping means and for guiding movement thereof into said extended position to engage said predetermined portion of each of said gripping means with such side surface of such container and to apply a predetermined force thereto, said predetermined force securely retaining such container within said cupholder assembly; and    (c) means engageable with one of at least one of said predetermined plurality of grip means, said torque transmission means, a rigid structure, and various combinations thereof for enabling continuous engagement of said predetermined portion of each of said gripping means with such side surface of such container upon insertion of it into said cupholder assembly and for enabling movement of each of said gripping means into said retracted position upon removal of such container from said cupholder assembly.    
   
   
       19 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 18 , wherein each of said gripping means includes: 
 (a) a first portion extending generally horizontally and having a first end pivotally connected to a portion of said rigid structure; and    (b) a second portion having a first end rigidly attached to said second end of said first portion for movement between extended and retracted positions, and a second end extending in a downward direction towards said torque transmitting means and configured for engagement with such side surface of such container.    
   
   
       20 . The cupholder assembly, according to  claim 19 , wherein said torque transmitting means includes a plate like member having a predetermined plurality of elongated slots disposed in a predetermined pattern each having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined length and configured for passing a respective one of said second end of said second portion of said gripping means therethrough and engageable with said respective one of said second end of said second portion of said predetermined plurality of grip means during movement of said plate like member between said first and said second position.