Cupholder adapter for providing a flat cap for and anchored by the cupholder

Abstract

A cupholder adapter providing a base portion connected to a retaining portion, where the retaining portion is adapted so that its outermost boundary is movable between an expanded position and a retracted position for insertion into a retaining void, and where the retaining portion is biased toward the expanded position so that its boundary is inherently urged to engage diametrically opposing surfaces of the retaining void to support the base portion superjacent the retaining void while its operatively associated retaining portion is anchored in the retaining void. When inserted into any cupholder having a girth between the minimum retracted position and the maximum expanded position, the retaining portion anchors in the cupholder so that a user may place one or more objects on an upper surface of the base portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cupholder adapter comprising:
 a cap portion connected to a retaining portion, wherein the retaining portion is configured so that an outermost boundary thereof is movable between an expanded condition and a retracted condition for insertion into the cupholder, wherein the retaining portion is biased toward the expanded condition so that its boundary is urged to engage diametrically opposing surfaces of the cupholder; and   the cap portion dimensioned and shaped to cover an opening of the cupholder when the retaining portion engages the opposing surfaces of the cupholder.   
     
     
         2 . The cupholder adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the cap portion has a flat upper surface. 
     
     
         3 . The cupholder adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the cap portion has an under surface dimensioned and shaped so that a periphery thereof circumscribes a perimeter of the opening of the cupholder. 
     
     
         4 . The cupholder adapter of  claim 3 , wherein the under surface of the cap portion sits on a brim of the cupholder, sealing off the opening of the cupholder from an external environment. 
     
     
         5 . The cupholder adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the flat upper surface provides a working surface. 
     
     
         6 . The cupholder adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the outermost boundary of the retaining portion comprises a first arm spaced apart from a second arm. 
     
     
         7 . The cupholder adapter of  claim 6 , wherein the second arm is operatively associated with a sliding rail so that the second arm moves independently relative to the first arm between the retracted condition and expanded condition. 
     
     
         8 . The cupholder adapter of  claim 7 , wherein the sliding rail operatively associates with a retaining pin depending from an under surface of the cap portion so that the retaining pin rides along a track defined by the sliding rail. 
     
     
         9 . The cupholder adapter of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an arcuate stabilizing ring depending from the retaining pin or the under surface of the cap portion; and   a biasing device housed in a cylinder, wherein the cylinder directly engages the arcuate stabilizing ring so that the biasing device biases the first and second arms toward the expanded condition.   
     
     
         10 . A method of plugging a cupholder to provide a working surface superjacent the cupholder, the method comprising:
 providing a cupholder adapter of  claim 1 ;   urging the outermost boundary of said cupholder adapter so that the retaining portion is inserted in the cupholder;   enabling the outermost boundary to be biased toward the expanded condition until the retaining portion engages opposing surface of the cupholder surface; and   seating the under surface of the cap portion against a brim of the cupholder.