INTRODUCTION

The present disclosure relates to a cup holder assembly. Cup holder assemblies are often used in vehicles to allow occupants to bring cups or bottles of liquid beverages with them. Because vehicles, particularly automobiles, are prone to vibrations, bumps and jostling, cup holders must be designed to securely hold containers of various sizes. Thus, while current cup holder assemblies achieve their intended purpose, there is a need for a new and improved cup holder assembly that has the capability to adjust the depth of the cup holder and the inner diameter of the cup holder to securely accommodate beverage containers of varying size.

SUMMARY

According to several aspects of the present disclosure, a cup holder assembly includes a stationary upper ring, a lower cup vertically movable relative to the stationary upper ring between a first position and a second position, a flexible sleeve extending between an upper edge of the lower cup and a bottom edge of the stationary upper ring, and an actuator adapted to selectively move the lower cup relative to the stationary upper ring between the first and second positions, thereby simultaneously varying a depth of the cup holder assembly and varying an inner diameter of the cup holder assembly.

According to another aspect, the actuator includes a gear mechanism, the gear mechanism interconnecting the actuator and the lower cup and adapted to move the lower cup relative to the stationary upper ring when the actuator is rotated, wherein rotation of the actuator in a first direction moves the lower cup away from the first position upward toward the stationary upper ring and rotation of the actuator in a second direction moves the lower cup away from the second position downward away from the stationary upper ring.

According to another aspect, the flexible sleeve is adapted to deflect inward when the lower cup is moved upward toward the stationary upper ring.

According to another aspect, the flexible sleeve is made from a flexible compressible material.

According to another aspect, the flexible sleeve is made from silicone.

According to another aspect, the flexible sleeve is a one-piece cylindrical ring extending between an upper edge of the lower cup and a bottom edge of the stationary upper ring.

According to another aspect, the flexible sleeve includes a plurality of slots formed therein and spaced circumferentially around the flexible sleeve.

According to another aspect, the flexible sleeve includes a plurality of segments extending between an upper edge of the lower cup and a bottom edge of the stationary upper ring, the plurality of segments spaced circumferentially around the cup holder assembly.

According to another aspect, the lower cup is biased away from the stationary upper ring.

According to another aspect, the cup holder assembly further includes a spring positioned between the actuator and the lower cup, the spring adapted to bias the lower cup away from the stationary upper ring.

According to another aspect, the actuator includes a rotatable body, an engagement feature adapted to allow the actuator to be selectively rotated, and a first support lip extending radially inward from and circumferentially around the rotatable body, the lower cup including a second support lip extending radially outward from and circumferentially around the lower cup, further wherein, the spring is positioned between the first and second support lips to bias the lower cup away from the stationary ring.

According to another aspect, the rotatable body of the actuator and the lower cup have one of a cylindrical and frustoconical shape.

According to another aspect, the gear mechanism includes a ramp formed within the rotatable body of the actuator, the lower cup including a pin extending radially outward from the second support lip and engaging the ramp, further wherein, when the actuator and the ramp is rotated in the first direction the pin follows the ramp upward and moves the lower cup away from the first position upward toward the stationary upper ring and when the actuator and the ramp is rotated in the second direction the pin follows the ramp downward and moves the lower cup away from the second position downward away from the stationary upper ring.

According to another aspect, the ramp includes detents formed therein, the biasing force of the spring adapted to maintain the pin within the detents absent selective rotation of the actuator to secure the position of the lower cup relative to the stationary upper ring.

According to another aspect, the gear mechanism includes a threaded engagement between the actuator and the lower cup.

According to several aspects of the present disclosure, a cup holder assembly includes a stationary upper ring, a lower cup vertically movable relative to the stationary upper ring between a first position and a second position, the lower cup including a second support lip extending radially outward from and circumferentially around the lower cup, a flexible sleeve extending between an upper edge of the lower cup and a bottom edge of the stationary upper ring, an actuator, the actuator including a rotatable body, an engagement feature adapted to allow the actuator to be selectively rotated, a first support lip extending radially inward from and circumferentially around the rotatable body, and a gear mechanism, the gear mechanism interconnecting the actuator and the lower cup and adapted to move the lower cup relative to the stationary upper ring when the actuator is rotated to vary a depth of the cup holder assembly, the flexible sleeve adapted to deflect inward when the lower cup is moved upward toward the stationary upper ring, and a spring positioned between the first and second support lips to bias the lower cup away from the stationary upper ring, wherein rotation of the actuator in a first direction moves the lower cup away from the first position upward toward the stationary upper ring reducing the depth of the cup holder assembly and causing the flexible sleeve to deflect inward, reducing the inner diameter of the cup holder assembly, and rotation of the actuator in a second direction moves the lower cup away from the second position downward away from the stationary upper ring, increasing the depth of the cup holder assembly and causing the flexible sleeve to deflect less, increasing the inner diameter of the cup holder assembly.

According to another aspect, the flexible sleeve is one of a one-piece cylindrical ring extending between an upper edge of the lower cup and a bottom edge of the stationary upper ring, a one-piece cylindrical ring extending between an upper edge of the lower cup and a bottom edge of the stationary upper ring including a plurality of slots formed therein and spaced circumferentially around the flexible sleeve, and a plurality of segments extending between an upper edge of the lower cup and a bottom edge of the stationary upper ring, the plurality of segments spaced circumferentially around the cup holder assembly.

According to another aspect, the rotatable body of the actuator and the lower cup have one of a cylindrical and frustoconical shape.

According to another aspect, the gear mechanism includes a ramp formed within the rotatable body of the actuator, the lower cup including a pin extending radially outward from the second support lip and engaging the ramp, further wherein, when the actuator and the ramp is rotated in the first direction the pin follows the ramp upward and moves the lower cup away from the first position upward toward the stationary upper ring and when the actuator and the ramp is rotated in the second direction the pin follows the ramp downward and moves the lower cup away from the second position downward away from the stationary upper ring, the ramp further including detents formed therein, the biasing force of the spring adapted to maintain the pin within the detents absent selective rotation of the actuator to secure the position of the lower cup relative to the stationary upper ring.

According to another aspect, the gear mechanism comprises a threaded engagement between the actuator and the lower cup.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

