Deployable cup holder

Abstract

A selectively deployable cup holder assembly comprises a telescoping bezel assembly having a plurality of supports which are operably coupled to a housing in a slideably coupled arrangement, such that the telescoping bezel assembly is movable between deployed and stowed positions relative to the housing, such that the vehicle occupant can deploy the telescoping bezel assembly to provide extended vertical support for an item to be stored in a cup holder assembly.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A deployable cup holder assembly, comprising:
 a housing;   a telescoping bezel assembly moveable between a deployed position and a stowed position relative to the housing, comprising;
 a bezel operably coupled a plurality of support members which are further coupled to the housing, wherein the bezel is supported by the support members in the deployed position; and 
   at least one latching mechanism operably coupled to the support members and the housing.   
     
     
         2 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the telescoping bezel assembly moves only along a vertical axis of movement relative to the housing between the deployed position and the stowed position.   
     
     
         3 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a storage compartment and a rim disposed about an upper portion of the storage compartment, wherein the rim further comprises an upper side and lower side with apertures extending therethrough for slideably receiving the support members to provide a slideably coupled arrangement between the telescoping bezel assembly and the housing.   
     
     
         4 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein:
 the support members are elongate support members having an elongate body portion including upper ends, lower ends and sides walls, wherein the lower ends include retainment members that extend outwardly from the support members to engage the lower side of the rim of the housing to retain the telescoping bezel assembly in the slideably coupled arrangement with the housing.   
     
     
         5 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the at least one latching mechanism comprises;
 upper and lower detents disposed on the side walls of the support members; and 
 latching clips disposed on the lower side of the rim of the housing having engagement members adapted to engage the upper or lower detents of the support members to retain the telescoping bezel assembly in either the stowed position or the deployed position. 
   
     
     
         6 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the latching clips are resilient latching clips that can deform to disengage either the upper or lower detents of the support members, and further wherein the latching clips are biased towards an engaged position with either the upper or lower detents when aligned therewith.   
     
     
         7 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein:
 the latching clips define a dampening mechanism by imparting a frictional force on the side walls of the support members as the telescoping bezel assembly moves between the stowed and deployed positions.   
     
     
         8 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 3 , including:
 connecting members disposed on the lower side of the rim of the housing adapted to retain the housing in a vehicle interior.   
     
     
         9 . A deployable cup holder assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a storage compartment and a rim disposed thereon;   a telescoping bezel assembly having at least one support member, wherein the support member is slideably received in at least one aperture disposed on the rim of the housing, and further wherein the bezel assembly is vertically movable between deployed and stowed positions; and   a dampening mechanism adapted to dampen vertical movement of the bezel assembly.   
     
     
         10 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the at least one support member is an elongate support member having an elongate body portion including sides walls, an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end includes a retainment member that extends outwardly from the support member to engage a lower side of the rim of the housing to retain the telescoping bezel in a slideably coupled arrangement with the housing.   
     
     
         11 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein:
 the dampening mechanism includes at least one resilient latching clip disposed on the lower side of the rim of the housing which imparts a frictional force on a side wall of the at least one support member during vertical movement of the telescoping bezel assembly.   
     
     
         12 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 11 , including:
 a latching mechanism comprising an engagement member disposed on the at least one resilient latching clip adapted to engage upper and lower detents disposed on the side wall of the at least one support member, such that the engagement member will engage the upper detents when the telescoping bezel assembly is in the stowed position and engage the lower detents when the telescoping bezel assembly is in the deployed position.   
     
     
         13 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the at least one resilient latching clip is biased towards an engaged position with either the upper or lower detents.   
     
     
         14 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 9 , including:
 connecting members disposed on the lower side of the rim of the housing adapted to retain the housing in a vehicle interior.   
     
     
         15 . A deployable cup holder assembly, comprising:
 a stationary housing coupled to a vehicle interior;   a telescoping bezel assembly operably coupled to the housing by a plurality of supports slideably received in the housing, wherein the telescoping bezel assembly is moveable between a deployed position and a stowed position relative to the housing thereby creating a slideably coupled arrangement between the housing and telescoping bezel assembly, and further wherein the bezel assembly and supports define a cage assembly having spaces disposed between the plurality of supports; and   at least one latching mechanism coupled to the supports and the housing for retaining the bezel in both the deployed and stowed positions.   
     
     
         16 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a storage compartment and a rim disposed about an upper portion of the storage compartment, wherein the rim further comprises an upper side and lower side with a plurality of apertures extending therethrough for slideably receiving the plurality of support members.   
     
     
         17 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein:
 the plurality of support members comprises elongate support members having an elongate body portion including upper ends, lower ends and sides walls, wherein the lower ends include retainment members that extend outwardly from the support members to engage the lower side of the rim of the housing to retain the telescoping bezel assembly in the slideably coupled arrangement with the housing.   
     
     
         18 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein:
 the at least one latching mechanism comprises;
 upper and lower detents disposed on the side walls of the support members; and 
 latching clips disposed on the lower side of the rim of the housing having engagement members adapted to engage the upper or lower detents of the support members to retain the telescoping bezel assembly in either the stowed position or the deployed position. 
   
     
     
         19 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein:
 the latching clips are resilient latching clips that define a dampening mechanism by imparting a frictional force on the side walls of the plurality of support members as the telescoping bezel assembly moves between the stowed and deployed positions.   
     
     
         20 . A deployable cup holder as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein:
 the telescoping bezel assembly moves only along a vertical axis of movement relative to the housing between the deployed position and the stowed position.