[001] The present invention relates to a cup holder for the center console of a vehicle. More in particular, the invention relates to a removable cup holder from a vehicle's center console in order to allow an alternative use of its storage area.

State of art

[002] The center consoles of motor vehicles have increasingly been used to accommodate a variety of items and among which the following can be mentioned: buttons for activating vehicle facilities, such as traction control, air conditioning, opening and closing electrical windows, among others, touch screens to control the internet connection (via smartphone or directly), access to some vehicle operating parameters among other possibilities or places for storing the driver's personal objects, including storage compartments or object holders, opened or closed by means of a lid.

[003] With regard specifically to cup holders, these are generally conical cavities provided in some part of the center console, depending on the facilities existing in the center console. Due to the internal cup holders' shape, specifically intended to hold cups, bottles, cans and the like, some storage volume is lost between the cup holder and the structure to which the center console is attached. In the case of vehicles without a central tunnel, due to exclusively front-wheel drive, the lost volume can be significant in respect to storage. Furthermore, and considering passengers who do not have the habit of using cups, bottles, cans and similar items in the vehicle, the storage volume of the cup holder is affected since its specific internal format do not allow to accommodate objects of medium and large sizes.

[004] Document US9333920 describes a set consisting of a cup holder and a center console mounted in the vehicle passenger compartment. The console has a storage compartment defined in the center console, between the backrests of the front seats. The cup holder can slide into the storage compartment by means a side rail system or it can be entirely removed by means of a retractable guide that slides along the inside of one of the cup holder slide rails. Due to the possibility of sliding the cup holder into the storage space, the internal volume of the storage compartment is affected by the cup holder retraction and in addition to not allowing the definition of a completely tight storage volume.

[005] Document JP2006062605 describes a detachable lid for a storage compartment provided in the center console of a vehicle. The system consists of two handles and four locking hooks that engage respective pins. When the two handles are operated simultaneously, the hooks disengage from the respective pins, releasing the lid. If only one handle is activated, the lid may tilt in relation to the hooks on the unreleased pins.

[006] Despite the solutions already known in the state of art, there remains a need for better use the cup holder's volume and, in particular, the volume defined beneath the cup holder and inside the center console of a vehicle, in order to provide other uses.

Brief Description of the Invention

[007] The present invention relates to a cup holder that can be removed from the center console of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and capable of being entirely removed from the center console giving rise to an object's holder.

[008] More specifically, the invention comprises:

Brief Description of Figures

[009] The invention will be better understood in light of the detailed description below of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is based on the illustrative and non-limiting figures attached, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a center console, with facilities not shown for clarity.

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the center console of Figure 1, with the cup holder installed.

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cup holder, according to the invention.

- Figures 4-8 are perspective views of the individual components of the cup holder.

- Figure 9 is a schematic and cross-sectional view, showing the button in the normal locked and released positions.

- Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view, according to line A-A of figure 2.

- Figure 11 illustrates the upper portion of the ledge in detail. And

- Figures 12A and 12B schematically illustrate the locking and releasing positions of the cup holder of the invention in relation to the center console of a vehicle, focusing on the position of the release button.

Detailed Description of an Embodiment of the Invention

[0010] In accordance with figures 1 and 2 attached, with 1 there is illustrated, as a whole, a center console of a passenger compartment (not illustrated) of a motor vehicle (not illustrated). In a known manner, said center console 1 is installed between the front seats (not illustrated) of the passenger compartment and extends to the front panel (not illustrated) of the vehicle. In a simplified way, the center console 1 has sides 2 and an upper surface 3, basically flat and with openings, couplings and seats intended to receive a series of items, such as buttons, controls, gear lever, radio and touch screen, among others.

[0011] In particular, said center console 1 comprises an opening 4 (see figure 1), intended to receive a cup holder 10 (see figure 2), in accordance with the present invention. Although the shape of the opening 4 depends on the characteristics and conformations of the vehicle in which the center console 1 is installed, it is possible to define said opening 4 from continuous side walls interconnected by a base, thus delimiting a volume accessible from the top, that is, through the opening defined in the center console 1 into which the opening 4 projects. Furthermore, in the longitudinal side walls of the opening 4 respective holes 5 are provided (see figure 9), in particular two holes 5 in each longitudinal side wall, capable of being penetrated by respective lower tabs 32, keeping the cup holder 10 in a defined and fixed position in relation to the center console 1 of the passenger compartment.

[0012] Figure 3 illustrates the cup holder 10, according to the invention and figures 4-8 individually illustrate each of its components. The cup holder 10 is basically defined by a bracket 11 whose conformation is intended to define seats 12 (two, in the illustrated in the figure), but preferably an even number of seats 12 in order to maintain the symmetry of the cup holder 10 and whose internal shapes and dimensions are defined depending on the drink carrier i.e., cup, bottle or can to be stored in each of these seats. From the larger or longitudinal sides of the bracket 11, two ledges 13, with a prismatic shape, longitudinally opposed and symmetrical each other, project inwards. On each ledges the cup holder 10 release mechanism is installed, as it will be later shown, in respective grooves projecting from the upper portion of each of the ledges 13.

[0013] Preferably, the inside of the bracket 11 is covered by a liner 20 (see figure 5), for example, made of rubber or similar material in order to provide the cup holder with watertightness, especially when the drink carrier contains some cold liquid. Furthermore, elastically deformable lobes 21 are also provided capable of increasing the containment of the drink carrier (cup, bottle or can) inserted therein.

[0014] The bracket 11 further comprises a ferrule 14 (see specifically figure 4) which defines the upper edge of the bracket 11. Said ferrule is also slightly projecting upwards on the larger or longitudinal sides of the bracket 11, specifically in the region where ledges 13 are provided. In this ferrule projecting region, an upper opening 15 is defined, intended for fixing the release button 30, and two lower openings 16, symmetrically arranged and intended for the passage of the locking tabs 32 of the release button 30, which will be described in detail below.

[0015] Regarding to the upper portion of each of the ledges 13 (see specifically figure 11), projecting plates 17 are provided, parallel each other and defining, between them, guides for the positioning and directional displacement of the release button 30. From the innermost projecting plates 17, a tooth 18 projects upwards intended for fixing the frame 22 in the bracket 11, as well as intended to be a stop to delimit the release course of the release button 30. To this end, each tooth 18 projects upwardly from the innermost portion of each of the ledges 13.

[0016] Finally, the upper portion of each of the ledges also comprises two supports 19, in the form of a projecting wall with a central slot, which define respective couplings for a laminar spring 26 (see figure 6), and said supports 19 are arranged in an intermediate position between the projecting plates 17 and the largest or longitudinal side of the bracket 11. Said laminar spring 26, illustrated in the rest position in figure 11 keeps the release button 30 in the cup holder 10 locking position and it is elastically deformed, in the transverse direction, when removing said cup holder 10. To this purpose, said laminar spring 26 has a straight central portion and at it ends curved edges 27 are defined in order to prevent any longitudinal displacement of the spring relative to the slots of each support 19, into which the spring 26 is inserted.

[0017] In relation to said release buttons 30, as best illustrated in figures 7, 9, 10 and 12A-12B, each said release button 30 is a monobloc structure centrally lowered and laterally provided with projecting walls, in order to define, internally, a region for insertion and application of force by the user's finger.

[0018] More in particular, each said release button 30 presents in its upper external portion, i.e., external in relation to the center of the cup holder 10, an upper projection 31, which projects horizontally and it is capable of coupling and sliding inside the upper opening 15 of the bracket 11 and a pair of longitudinally opposed tabs 32, horizontally projecting and able to penetrate and slide inside the lower openings 16 of the bracket. Furthermore, the central end 33 of each of the lower tabs 32 is inferiorly rounded, so as to facilitate the reinsertion of the cup holder 10 in the center console 1.

[0019] Furthermore, the lower portion of the release button 30 has one or more guide plates 34 (see specifically figure 12B) in correspondence and able to slide between the guides defined by the projecting plates 17 of the ledge 13 of the bracket 11, in order to avoid any longitudinal displacement of the release button 30, but allowing transverse movement of said release button 30, between a locking position (figure 12A) and a release position (figure 12B). In addition, from said lower portion of the release button 30, a pin (not visible) also projects downwards and is capable of interacting with said laminar spring 26, arranged in the upper portion of said ledge 13.

[0020] Finally, said release button 30 is maintained in its seated position, that is, against the plane defined in the upper portion of the ledge 13 by the action of the frame 22 and, in particular, by the corresponding internal rings 24 that project inwards from the frame body 22 and whose central opening is geometrically equivalent to the central recess of each release button 30. For the purpose said frame 22 also has a series of locking handles 23, projecting downward from the frame body, as well as from the internal rings 24 so as to be engaged by the respective teeth 18 of the ledge and by respective peripheral teeth 27 internally projecting from the side walls of the bracket 11. It should also be noted that the shape of the frame 22 corresponds to that of the ferrule 14 of the bracket 11, as well as providing an aesthetic finishing for the cup holder 10 when it is inserted into the opening 4 of the center console 1 of the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0021] In operation, and from the position illustrated in figure 12A, that is, with the cup holder inserted and coupled in the opening 4 of the center console 1, the release button 30 is maintained in a locking position by the action of the laminar spring 26 acting against the lower pin of the release button 30. In this locking position, the upper projection 31 of the release button 30 is completely inside the upper opening 15 of the bracket 11, without exceeding the external dimension of said bracket 11, whilst the two tabs 32 of said release button 30 cross the respective lower openings 16 of the bracket 11 and penetrate the respective holes 5 of the center console 1 opening 4, thus keeping the cup holder 10 in position.

[0022] If the user wishes to remove said cup holder 10 from the center console 1, thus freeing up the storage volume defined by opening 4 for purposes other than storing drink carriers in general, such as cups, bottles or cans, the user only needs to insert two fingers, one on each release button 30, compressing these buttons one against the other, that is, moving them in reciprocal proximity. The force application by the user's hand/fingers overcomes the resistance of the respective laminar springs 26, arranged below and connected to each one of the two release buttons 30, moving both release buttons 30 to the unlocking position, as illustrated in figure 12B. In this position, the ends of the tabs 32 leave the respective holes 5 of the opening 4, thus releasing the entire cup holder assembly 10. In the next movement, the user lifts the cup holder, keeping the two release buttons 30 compressed in a natural movement, since the compression of said buttons allows an increase in friction sufficient to completely remove the cup holder, unlocked, from the opening 4 of the center console 1 of the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0023] For the opposite operation, that is, reinserting the cup holder 10 inside the opening 4, the user only needs to hold the cup holder 1 in the same hand position used to remove it, that is, with a finger inside each release button 30. Even if the force applied by the user's fingers is not sufficient to fully compress said buttons, one against the other, the rounded conformation of the central ends 33 of the tabs 32 will force such positioning as then they come into contact with the side walls of opening 4. [0024] Finally, due to the longitudinal and transverse symmetry of the cup holder 10, the user does not need to worry about identifying the front or back of the cup holder 10, being able to insert it directly.

[0025] Therefore, in addition to allowing the selective use of the storage volume in the opening 4 of the center console 1, either as a cup holder or as a useful and unobstructed volume for the storage of larger objects. The cup holder 10, in accordance with the invention, also allows to be removed for cleaning purposes, mainly due to its use with drink carriers containing refrigerated liquids, which can cause humidity around the container, with natural dripping of drops of condensed water, which mixes with dust and dispersed particles, making difficult to remove this kind of dirt.

Number of the Component parts of the invention

1 - center console

2 - side

3 - upper surface

4 - opening

5 - hole

10 - cup holder

11 - bracket

12 - seat (container)

13 - ledge

14 - ferrule

15 - upper opening

16 - lower openings

17 - projecting plates

18 - tooth

19 - supports (of the spring 26) J - peripheral tooth

20 - liner

21 - lobes

22 - frame - locking handles - inner ring - fastening handles - laminar spring - curved edge - release button - upper projection - tabs - central end - guide plate