CA1267120A - Integrated interior trim panel cup holder - Google Patents
Integrated interior trim panel cup holderInfo
- Publication number
- CA1267120A CA1267120A CA000517677A CA517677A CA1267120A CA 1267120 A CA1267120 A CA 1267120A CA 000517677 A CA000517677 A CA 000517677A CA 517677 A CA517677 A CA 517677A CA 1267120 A CA1267120 A CA 1267120A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- trim panel
- hatch cover
- cup holder
- panel
- vehicle
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Passenger Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A cup holder for employment within the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The cup holder is built into a vehicle's interior trim panel so as to be incorporated as an integral part of the vehicle's interior and minimize bulk, attachment and support requirements. The cup holder comprises a hatch cover which is movably attached to the trim panel on a generally horizontal pivot axis. The hatch cover is movable between a stowed generally vertical position where it is substantially flush with the trim panel to a horizontal position where its surface provides a cup support.
A cup holder for employment within the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The cup holder is built into a vehicle's interior trim panel so as to be incorporated as an integral part of the vehicle's interior and minimize bulk, attachment and support requirements. The cup holder comprises a hatch cover which is movably attached to the trim panel on a generally horizontal pivot axis. The hatch cover is movable between a stowed generally vertical position where it is substantially flush with the trim panel to a horizontal position where its surface provides a cup support.
Description
,P~ 'I
I_T~G~T~D IN~r~RIoR TRIM PANBL CUP ~OLDER
BACKGRoUND OF TIIE INVENTION
l. Field of the Invention A vehicle accessory which is becoming unusually popular is a beverage bottle, or can support, which is readily accessible and which will retain the container in a secure fashion to avoid spillage due to vehicle motion. This type of accessory is commonly referred to as a cup holder.
This invention relates to a cup holder which is formed as an integral component of a vehicle interior trim panel so as to minimize space requirements and be aesthetically compatible with the vehicle interior.
Accessory supports such as cup holders are well known but are presently found in the form of add-on housings as opposed to an integral part of the vehicle interior. Such presently available devices are bulky and detract from the appearance of the vehicle interior. U. S. patents 3,136,461 and 3,267,567 are representative of such add-on units, and disclose devices which are visually unpleasing and require careful alignment in assembly within the vehicle to insure proper fit. Since they are separate, i.e., not built into the vehicle interior, the devices require individual fasteners, part numbers and strong vehicle support attachment such as floor pan tunnel support.
~j 1.
~2~7 11~
Sl)MM~ Y OE''rllE' INVENT[ON
An integrated body interior -trirn panel is pro-vlded having means for supporting one or more beverage containers. The cup holder is constructed to minimize space and weight requirement, present a pleasing "built-in" appearance in contrast to an "add~on", and yet pro-vide more than adequate means to securely restrain the con-tainer from acciden-tal spillage.
Broadly speaking, the present invention provides a vehicle interior trim panel having an integrally formed cup holder, the trim panel being provided with a recess and a hatch cover movably positioned within the recess, the cover being pivotally mounted on the body panel about a generally horizontal axis adjacent the lower edge of the hatch cover for movemen-t from a stowed position in which the hatch cover is substantially flush with the panel to an open position in which the hatch cover extends horizontally outwardly from the panel such that the trim pane~ does not overlie the ha-tch cover, the hatch cover being provide~ with a cup retention aperture on one side thereof with the hatch cover side opposite the cup reten-tion means being provided with a surface finish to har-monize with that of the interior trim panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cup holder of this invention integrated with a vehicle interior quarter trim panel;
Fig. 2 illustrates the cup holder arrangement shown in Fig. 1 in an open or extended position; and sp:~C
'7~t3 ¦ Flg. 3 ls a sectioned view taken along the line 3~3 j of Fi~. 2.
DETAI~ED DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE INVENTION
The cup holder assembly of this invention is illustrated in the drawing in conjunction with a vehicle interiox trim quarter panel application. The trim panel, indicated generally by 10, is shown adjacent a vehicle quarter panel window 12 and the trim panel is shaped to provide an arm rest ~4 which optionally may be constructed to overlie a storage compartment (not shown).
The cup holder of this invention is constructed to be an integral part o the interior body or trim panel 10 whose particular configuration is not material. In the illustrated embodiment, the cup holder is provided by means of a hatch cover 16 which is movably supported in the trim panel 10. Preerably, the hatch cover is pi~otally supported on the trim panel about a horizontal pivot axis 18 such that it may pivot from a stowed position where it is substantially flush with the surrounding wall o the trim panel to an open position where the hatch cover provides a generally horizontal support surface 20. As seen with reference to the drawing, the inner support surface 20 of the hatch cover is provided with cup supporting recess 22 while the outer surface 24, iOe., that surface exposed when the hatch cover is in its stowed position has a finish complementary to the trim panel. It will be understood that a container supporting aperture extending through the hatch cover 16 could be employed in place of recess 22.
As seen in the drawing, the trim panel 10 can be recessed as at 26 and the hatch cover 16 movably positioned within the recess 26 to provide a flush trim panel outer surface. To facilitate manual movement of the cup holder, a gap 28 can be provided between the trim panel and hatch co~er (Fig. 1) to accommodate a passenger~s hand.
While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that there may be other embodiments which fall within the spirit ànd scope of the invention and that the invention is susceptible to modification and variation without departing from the following claims.
`
'
I_T~G~T~D IN~r~RIoR TRIM PANBL CUP ~OLDER
BACKGRoUND OF TIIE INVENTION
l. Field of the Invention A vehicle accessory which is becoming unusually popular is a beverage bottle, or can support, which is readily accessible and which will retain the container in a secure fashion to avoid spillage due to vehicle motion. This type of accessory is commonly referred to as a cup holder.
This invention relates to a cup holder which is formed as an integral component of a vehicle interior trim panel so as to minimize space requirements and be aesthetically compatible with the vehicle interior.
Accessory supports such as cup holders are well known but are presently found in the form of add-on housings as opposed to an integral part of the vehicle interior. Such presently available devices are bulky and detract from the appearance of the vehicle interior. U. S. patents 3,136,461 and 3,267,567 are representative of such add-on units, and disclose devices which are visually unpleasing and require careful alignment in assembly within the vehicle to insure proper fit. Since they are separate, i.e., not built into the vehicle interior, the devices require individual fasteners, part numbers and strong vehicle support attachment such as floor pan tunnel support.
~j 1.
~2~7 11~
Sl)MM~ Y OE''rllE' INVENT[ON
An integrated body interior -trirn panel is pro-vlded having means for supporting one or more beverage containers. The cup holder is constructed to minimize space and weight requirement, present a pleasing "built-in" appearance in contrast to an "add~on", and yet pro-vide more than adequate means to securely restrain the con-tainer from acciden-tal spillage.
Broadly speaking, the present invention provides a vehicle interior trim panel having an integrally formed cup holder, the trim panel being provided with a recess and a hatch cover movably positioned within the recess, the cover being pivotally mounted on the body panel about a generally horizontal axis adjacent the lower edge of the hatch cover for movemen-t from a stowed position in which the hatch cover is substantially flush with the panel to an open position in which the hatch cover extends horizontally outwardly from the panel such that the trim pane~ does not overlie the ha-tch cover, the hatch cover being provide~ with a cup retention aperture on one side thereof with the hatch cover side opposite the cup reten-tion means being provided with a surface finish to har-monize with that of the interior trim panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cup holder of this invention integrated with a vehicle interior quarter trim panel;
Fig. 2 illustrates the cup holder arrangement shown in Fig. 1 in an open or extended position; and sp:~C
'7~t3 ¦ Flg. 3 ls a sectioned view taken along the line 3~3 j of Fi~. 2.
DETAI~ED DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE INVENTION
The cup holder assembly of this invention is illustrated in the drawing in conjunction with a vehicle interiox trim quarter panel application. The trim panel, indicated generally by 10, is shown adjacent a vehicle quarter panel window 12 and the trim panel is shaped to provide an arm rest ~4 which optionally may be constructed to overlie a storage compartment (not shown).
The cup holder of this invention is constructed to be an integral part o the interior body or trim panel 10 whose particular configuration is not material. In the illustrated embodiment, the cup holder is provided by means of a hatch cover 16 which is movably supported in the trim panel 10. Preerably, the hatch cover is pi~otally supported on the trim panel about a horizontal pivot axis 18 such that it may pivot from a stowed position where it is substantially flush with the surrounding wall o the trim panel to an open position where the hatch cover provides a generally horizontal support surface 20. As seen with reference to the drawing, the inner support surface 20 of the hatch cover is provided with cup supporting recess 22 while the outer surface 24, iOe., that surface exposed when the hatch cover is in its stowed position has a finish complementary to the trim panel. It will be understood that a container supporting aperture extending through the hatch cover 16 could be employed in place of recess 22.
As seen in the drawing, the trim panel 10 can be recessed as at 26 and the hatch cover 16 movably positioned within the recess 26 to provide a flush trim panel outer surface. To facilitate manual movement of the cup holder, a gap 28 can be provided between the trim panel and hatch co~er (Fig. 1) to accommodate a passenger~s hand.
While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that there may be other embodiments which fall within the spirit ànd scope of the invention and that the invention is susceptible to modification and variation without departing from the following claims.
`
'
Claims
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1 . A vehicle interior trim panel having an integrally formed cup holder, said trim panel being provided with a recess and a hatch cover movably positioned within said recess, said cover being pivotally mounted on said body panel about a generally horizontal axis adjacent the lower edge of said hatch cover for movement from a stowed position in which said hatch cover is substantially flush with said panel to an open position in which the hatch cover extends horizontally outwardly from said panel such that said trim panel does not overlie said hatch cover, said hatch cover being provided with a cup retention aperture on one side thereof with the hatch cover side opposite said cup retention means being provided with a surface finish to harmonize with that of said interior trim panel.
10747/LCM:
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1 . A vehicle interior trim panel having an integrally formed cup holder, said trim panel being provided with a recess and a hatch cover movably positioned within said recess, said cover being pivotally mounted on said body panel about a generally horizontal axis adjacent the lower edge of said hatch cover for movement from a stowed position in which said hatch cover is substantially flush with said panel to an open position in which the hatch cover extends horizontally outwardly from said panel such that said trim panel does not overlie said hatch cover, said hatch cover being provided with a cup retention aperture on one side thereof with the hatch cover side opposite said cup retention means being provided with a surface finish to harmonize with that of said interior trim panel.
10747/LCM:
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US85997086A | 1986-05-05 | 1986-05-05 | |
| US859,970 | 1986-05-05 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1267120A true CA1267120A (en) | 1990-03-27 |
Family
ID=25332191
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000517677A Expired CA1267120A (en) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-09-08 | Integrated interior trim panel cup holder |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1267120A (en) |
-
1986
- 1986-09-08 CA CA000517677A patent/CA1267120A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |