GB2345681A

GB2345681A - Fold-away cup holder

Info

Publication number: GB2345681A
Application number: GB9900621A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pei-Hsiu Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-01-08
Filing date: 1999-01-12
Publication date: 2000-07-19
Also published as: JP2001029201A; CA2258203A1; CA2258203C

Abstract

A fold-away cup holder comprises two pivotably connected plates 1,2, cup engaging means 3a,3b and releasable connecting rods 6 that keep the plates in the open, in-use position. The rods 6 comprise upper and lower rods 61,62 that are hinged together. The cup holder is fastened to the inside of a vehicle by means of screws or adhesive.

Description

Impl oved Rtehicle-use Foldable Beverage Holder BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention herein relates to an improvement of the'Vehicle-use Foldable Beverage Holder"invention registered under United States Patent No. 5, 072,909, specifically referring to a kind of improved vehicle-use foldable beverage holder offering installation and utilization enhancements.

The invention herein was first improved by the father of the applicant as the "Vehicle-use Foldable Beverage Holder"and, as indicated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, was mainly comprised of a mounting plate (1), a base plate (2), a left clip arm (3a), a right clip arm (3b), and clip arm rod (5). The aforesaid adjustable vehicle-use foldable beverage holder offered more practicality than conventional beverage holders.

However, since the installation and mounting method remained similar to that of conventional beverage holders in that the mounting plate (1) was directly fastened by means of screws or adhesives to a vertical interior surface or inside the door of a vehicle and the can or cup of beverage was held onto the base plate (2) by the two clip arms (3a) and (3b), which prevented the occurrence of slanting. Due to the introduction of numerus vehicle models, especially luxury sedans having interiors characterized by a flowing line design locating a vertical area tor fastening or adhering the mounting plate (1) became increasingly difficult and required a modification so that the underside of the base plate (2) could be directly adhered near the driver's seat or other level installation surfaces. Furthermore, since the"Vehicleuse Foldable Beverage Holder"developed by the father of the applicant and of the conventional products were not equipped with a support connecting rod, the mounting plate (1) frequently tended to automatically fall over and cover the base plate (2) (as depicted in FIG. 7), such that when a beverage can or beverage cup as placed onto the base plate (2), slanting would occur at the slightest contact. While most beverage spills in vehicles dirty the interior, such messes can be cleaned up. However, seated passengers are exposed to injury by scalding if a hot beverage tips over in the vehicle, a very unsafe situation. Furthermore, there are numerus vertically and horizontally intersecting reinforcement ribs (14) on the rear surface of the mounting plate (1) body (10) such that when the aforesaid vehicle-use foldable beverage holder is not being utilized, the two clip arms (3a) and (3b) are folded up against the front of the mounting plate (1) and then the mounting plate (1) is folded against the base plate (2) (as depicted in FIG. 9) to conserve space. However, the numerous reinforcement ribs (14) on the exterior of existent vehicle-use beveraae holders is totally unattractive and, furthermore, does not match the interior flowing lines of vehicles, hich a frequent consumer complaint.

Furthermore, no linkage structure or device is designed in between the mounting plate (1) and the cover plate (2), when the mounting plate (1) has been directly fastened by means of screws or adhesives to a suitable interior surface of a vehicle and the two sections are utilized, since the mounting plate (1) deforms and posts (15) on the two sides of the lower bracket [bar] (13) or the holes (25) of the two lateral containment edges (21) become worn, which leads to loosening such that the aforesaid cover plate (2) cannot be linked with stabilit) onto the aforesaid mounting plate (1), resulting in the partially opened situation depicted in FIG. 9 and the incapability of achievng a state of total closure with the aforesaid mounting plate (1), when generates noise due the constant swinging movement while the vehicle is in motion, especially when driving on sloped terrain.

The applicant of the invention herein has accumulated many years of experience while assisting his father in the manufacturing and marketing of the aforementioned vehicle-use beverage holder and, furthermore, has observed that both the aforesaid beverage holder as well as conventional units are affected by the aforementioned shortcomings and, therefore, conducted research and testing to develop the improved vehicle-use beverage holder of the invention herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a beverage holder mainly comprised of a mounting plate, a base plate, a left clip arm, a right clip arm, and a clip arm rod, of which the innovations include: the aforesaid mounting plate has a hole in each of the two lateral walls of the mounting plate body, or an elongated hole is formed in each of the aforesaid two lateral walls of the aforesaid mounting plate body and, furthermore, there is a rearward detent at the lower end of the aforesaid elongated hole, and the aforesaid base plate has one hole or more in each of the two lateral containment edges of the base plate body; a support connecting rod that is comprised of an upper connecting rod that consists of a long strip with an arrowhead-shaped split post on the inner side of the upper end, a semicircular post and a through-hole in the outer side of the lower end and, furthermore, a positioning tab on the edge below the aforesaid through-hole and the aforesaid semicircular post; a lower connecting rod that consists of a long strip with an arrowhead-shaped split post formed at the outer side of the lower end and at the inner side of the upper end, respectively, and, furthermore, a positioning hole proximal to the upper end of the aforesaid long strip; the aforesaid arrowheadshaped split post at the upper end of the aforesaid lower connecting rod is inserted into the aforementioned through-hole in the lower end of the aforementioned upper connecting rod to form the movable linkage structure of the aforementioned support connecting rod, and the aforementioned arrowhead-shaped split post at the upper end of the aforementioned upper connecting rod is inserted into the aforementioned hole in the aforementioned lateral wall of the aforementioned mounting plate body, thereby forming a movable linkage structure; furthermore, the aforesaid arrowheadshaped split post at the lower end of the of the aforesaid lower connecting rod is inserted into the aforementioned hole in the aforementioned containment edge of the aforementioned base plate body, enabling the movable linkage of the aforesaid support connecting rod to be maintained in a stationary configuration of approximately 130 degrees in between the aforementioned mounting plate and the aforementioned base plate and utilized to supportively maintain the aforesaid mounting plate and base plate in a fixed L-shaped configuration; strips that have one hole formed at each of the two ends for the link insertion of split rivets through the aforesaid elongated holes in the aforesaid lateral walls of the aforesaid mounting plate as well as through the aforesaid holes in the aforesaid containment edges of the aforesaid base plate; or that have arrowhead-shaped split post formed at each of the two ends that are link inserted through the aforesaid elongate holes in the lateral walls of the aforesaid mounting plate as well as through the aforesaid holes in the aforesaid containment edges of the aforesaid base plate, both of which enable the aforesaid mounting plate and base plate to be supported in a fixed L-shaped configuration; a decorative cover plate that consists of a plate body having a containment edge formed along the entire perimeter and a minimum of two split posts formed on the inner side, which are inserted into the fastener holes at rear of the aforesaid mounting plate body or which may consist of another type of decorative cover plate having an containment edge at the upper end and a separation at the lower end, but the aforesaid cover plate body must also have Lshaped lips along the two sides of the aforesaid containment edge and a minimum of one bevelled tab adjacent to the aforesaid containment edge on the inner side of the aforesaid cover plate body, which enables the aforesaid L-shaped lips at the upper extent of the aforesaid mounting plate to fit over the protruding strips on the two sides of the aforesaid mounting plate body and thereby be insertion fastened to the rear surface of the aforesaid mounting plate.

The present invention also provides a beverage holder as defined above, including any one or more of the individual features set out in claim 1.

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a kind of vehicle-use folding beverage holder in which there is a minimum of one support connection rod constituting the retaining means in between the mounting plate and the base plate to ensure that the beverage container engaging means in the form of two clip arms on the mounting plate do not slant forward when a can or cup of beverage is being held onto the base plate.

In the preferred embodiment, a lock-type or an inset-type decorative cover plate can be installed to the rear surface of the mounting plate to enhance the appearance of the vehicle-use folding beverage holder when not in utilization and the aforesaid mounting plate is covering the base plate.

The mounting plate may be installed on a vertical surface such that base plate can be covered tightly to the mounting plate after usage in a manner that features accurate position that precludes the occurrence of incomplete closure or opening that would result in separation and falling ; furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the invention herein will not be jarred open when the host vehicle is driven on sloped terrain and generate irritating noise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an isometric drawing of the invention herein during utilization, with the base plate securely installed.

Figure 2 is an isometric drawing of the invention herein after utilization o while not being utilized, with the base plate securely installed and functioning.

Figure 3 is an isometric exploded drawing of the invention herein.

Figure 4 is an orthographic drawing of another embodiment of the support connecting rod as viewed from above.

Figure 5 is an orthographic drawing of another embodiment of the support connecting rod as view from the front.

Figure 6 is an orthographic drawing of the left side of another preferred embodiment of the invention herein.

Figure 7 is an exploded isometric drawing of another preferred embodiment of the invention herein.

Figure 8 is an isometric drawing of a conventional foldable beverage holder during utilization, with the base plate securely installed and functioning.

Figure 9 is an isometric drawing of a conventional folding beverage holder after utilization or while not being utilized, with the base plate securely installed and functioning.

Figure 10 is an isometric drawing of a conventional folding beverage holder during utilization, with the base plate securely installed and functioning Figure 11 is an isometric drawing of a conventional folding beverage holder after utilization or while not being utilized, with the base plate securely installed and functioning.

PARTS OF THE DRAWINGS l-Mounting plate.

2-Base plate.

3a-Left clip arm.

3b-Right clip arm.

4-Clip ann rod.

5a-Lock-type decorative cover plate.

5b-Insert-type decorative cover plate.

6, 6'-Support connecting rod.

7, 7'-Split rivet.

8-Spring 10-Mounting plate body.

11-Lateral wall.

12-Upper racket.

13-Lower racket.

14-Reinforcing rib.

15-Post.

16-Hole.

101-Lock tab.

102-Post.

17-Fastener hole.

18-Protruding strip 19-Elongated hole 20-Base plate body.

21-Base plate containment edge.

22,22'-Hole.

23-Hole.

25-Hole.

50a-Lock-type decorative cover plate body.

50b-Insert-type decorative cover plate body.

5 1-Containment edge.

52-Split post.

53-L-shaped lip.

54-Beveled 4-Beveled tab.

60, 60'-Strip.

61-Upper comecting rod.

62-Lower connecting rod.

612-Semicircular post.

613-Through-hole.

103-Opening.

19 1-Detent 601,602-Hole.

603,604-Arrowhead-shaped split post.

610-Upper comiecting rod strip.

611-Arrowhead-shaped split post.

614-Positioning tab.

620-Lower connecting rod strip.

621-Arrowhead-shaped split post.

622-Arrowhead-shaped split post.

623-Positioning hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the improved vehicle-use foldable beverage holder of the invention herein is mainly comprised of a mounting plate (1), a base plate (2), a left clip arm (3a), a right clip arm (3b), and a clip arm rod (4). All of the aforesaid components are constnicted of a plastic material and are formed in single molding process and, furthermore, after the left clip arm (3a) and right clip arm (3b) are first directly sleeved onto the clip arm rod (4) (as indicated in FIG. 3) manually and then fitted onto the upper bracket (12) at the two sides of the mounting plate (1); finally, the ho rear sides of the base plate (2) are fitted onto the posts (15) at the two sides of the lower bracket (13), which completes the assembly of the improved vehicle-use foldable beverage holder of the invention herein. However, when the mounting plate (1) of the improved vehicle-use foldable beverage holder of the invention herein is being molded, a hole (16) is formed in each of the two lateral walls (11) of the mounting plate body (10) ; furthermore, a hole (22) is formed in each of the two lateral containment edges (21) of the base plate body (20), thereby enabling the installation of the support connecting rods (6) in between the left and right sides of the mounting plate (1) and the base plate (2), which are utilized to supportively maintain the aforesaid mounting plate (1) and base plate (2) in a fixed L-shaped configuration (as viewed from a left lateral perspective), such that the aforesaid mounting plate (1) is prevented from slanting towards or slanting and covering the aforesaid base plate (2) during the utilization of the invention herein. Each of the aforesaid support connecting rods (2) is stwcturally an active linkage comprised of an upper connecting rod (61) and a lower connecting rod (62) which are molded from a plastic material; during the fabrication of the aforesaid upper connecting rod (61), a long connecting rod strip (610) is molded with an arrowhead-shaped split post (611) on the inner side of the upper end, which is capable of pivoting freely when inserted into the hole (16) through the lateral wall (11) of the mounting plate body (10); a semicircular post (612) and a through-hole (613) are molded on the outer side of the lower end of the aforesaid connecting rod strip (610) and, furtherniore, a positioning tab (614) is molded on the edge below the through-hole (613) and the semicircular post (612); during the fabrication of the lower connecting rod (62), a long lower connecting rod strip (620) is molded with an arrowhead-shaped split post (621) molded at the outer side of the lower end, which is capable of pivoting freely when inserted into the hole (22) through the containment edge (21) of the base plate body (20); furthermore, an arrowhead-shaped split post (622) is molded on the imager side of the upper end of the aforesaid lower connecting rod strip (620), which capable of pivoting freely when inserted into the through-hole (613) at the lower end of the aforesaid upper connecting rod (61) and thereby operate as a linkage mechanism; to enable the movable linkage of aforesaid upper connecting rod (61) and the aforesaid lower connecting rod (62) to remain in a stationary configuration that is approximately 130 degrees (as viewed a right lateral perspective), the point near the upper end of the aforesaid lower connecting rod strip (620) must be positioned across from the semicircular post (612) on the aforesaid connecting rod strip (610), and the additional molding of a positioning hole (623) enables such a configuration of the linked upper connecting rod (61) and lower connecting rod (62) because the semicircular post (612) on the aforesaid upper connecting rod (61) can be inserted into the positioning hole (623) of the lower connecting rod (62) and, furthermore, the edge at the lower end of the aforesaid lower connecting rod (62) rests against the positioning tab (614) at the lower end of the aforesaid upper connecting rod (61), thereby maintaining the aforesaid stationary configuration of approximately 130 degrees.

Since the improved vehicle-use foldable beverage holder of the invention herein has at minimum one support connecting rod (6) movable linkage (a movable linkage can also be installed on both the left and right sides) in between the mounting plate (1) and the base plate (2) at either the left or right side (according to the preference or convenience of the user) and the aforesaid support connecting rod (6) is capable of maintaining a stationary configuration of approximately 130 degrees, as described in the foregoing section, therefore, the mounting plate (1) and the base plate (2) can be supported in a fixed L-shaped configuration (as indicated in the left lateral view of the FIG. 1) during utilization; therefore, the bottom of the base plate (2) of the invention herein can be installed on a flat surface inside a vehicle by using an adhesive or other means of mounting and, when a beverage can or cup (not shown in the drawings) is held in between the left clip arm (3a) and the right clip arm (3b) on the base plate (2), the mounting plate (1) will not slide forward in the direction of the aforesaid beverage can or cup, such that a cup of hot beverage being held will not tip over and scald passengers. Following usage, the empty can or cup is removed from the left clip arm (3a) and the right clip arm (3b), while the left clip arm (3a) and the right clip arm (3b) are secured onto the mounting clip (1) and then, one finger is pushed against the movable linkage conjoining the upper connecting rod (61) and the lower connecting rod (62) of the one or two support connecting rod (6) and the rearward push causes the original configuration of approximately 130 degrees to fold into congmous reverse angle, following which another finger pushes the mounting plate (1) forward and flush against the aforesaid base plate (2), a procedure that results in a final state of appearance (as indicated in FIG. 2) similar to conventional vehicle-use folding beverage holders.

Referring to FIG. 2, although the post-utilization folding procedures and condition of the invention herein is similar to that of conventional devices, the invention herein has a lock-type decorative cover plate (5a) (as indicated in FIG. 1) or an insert-type decorative cover plate (5b) (as also indicated in FIG. 2) that is fastened to the rear surface of the mounting plate (1) and, therefore, the unattractive reinforcing rib (14) (identical to that shown in FIG. 11) on the rear surface of the aforesaid mounting plate (1) are completely covered by the aforesaid lock-type decorative cover plate (5a) or insert-type decorative cover plate (5b) and remains out of view ; at the same time, the lock-type decorative cover plate body (50a) and the insert-type decorative cover plate body (50b) can be embellished with a walnut veneer or leather through adhesion or overlaying to further enhance the appearance. As indicated in FIG. 3, the aforesaid lock-type decorative cover plate (5a) consists of a cover plate body (50a) that is molded from plastic, with the dimensions matching that of the mounting plate (1) of the invention herein, and essentially involves the molding of the containment edge (51) of the cover plate body (50a) as well as a minimum of two split posts (52) on the inner side of the aforesaid cover plate body (50a), which are inserted into the fastener holes (17) on the mounting plate body (10) at the rear of the mounting plate (1) and thereby permits a means of secure fastening to the rear surface of the aforesaid mounting plate (1) (as indicated in FIG. 1). As indicated in FIG. 3, the aforesaid insert-type decorative cover plate body (50b) consists of a cover plate body (50b) that is molded from plastic, with the dimensions matching that of the mounting plate (1) of the invention herein, and primarily inolves the molding of a containment edge (51) at the upper end of the aforesaid cover plate body (50b) and two L-shaped lips (53) on two sides along the lower end and, furthermore, the molding of at least one beveled tab (54) adjacent to the containment edge (51) on the inner side of the aforesaid cover plate body (50b), which enables the L-shaped lips (53) at the upper extent of the aforesaid mounting plate (1) to fit over the protmding strips (18) on the two sides of the aforesaid mounting plate body (10) and thereby be insertion fastened to the rear surface of the aforesaid mounting plate (1) (as indicated in FIG. 1).

Additional embodiments of the support connecting rod (6') of the invention are shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. AlthollOh tlle aforesaid support connecting rod (6') is identical to previously described support connecting rod (6), and is stmcturally an active linkage comprised of an upper connecting rod (61') and a lower connecting rod (62'), the structure is not a direct linkage, and consists of a split rivet (7) that is first equipped with a spring (8) before installation into the linkage structure of the aforesaid upper connecting rod (61') and lower connecting rod (62'). The aforesaid upper connecting rod (61') is structurally identical to the upper connecting rod (61) of the support connecting rod (6) in the previously described embodiment and, furthermore, consists of a upper connecting rod strip (610) having an Arrowhead-shaped split post (611) molded on the inner side of the upper end, a semicircular post (612) and a through-hole (613) molded on the outer side of the lower end and, furthermore, a positioning tab (614) molded on the edge below the through-hole (613) and the semicircular post (612); although the aforesaid lower connecting rod (62') has an Arrowhead-shaped split post (621) molded at the outer side of the lower end of the lower connecting rod strip (620), in addition to the positioning hole (623) molded at the inner side of the upper end, a through-hole is molded at the uppermost end in instead of the originally molded arrowhead-shaped split post (622), with the split rivet (7) equipped with the spring (8) inserted to complete the linkage structure with the upper connecting rod (61'). In the linkage structure between the mounting plate (1) and the base plate (2) of invention herein, the support connecting rod (6') embodiment is functionally identical to the previously introduced embodiment support connecting rod (6) and similarly, the arrowhead-shaped split post (611) at the upper end of the upper connecting rod (61') is inserted into the hole (16) in the lateral wall (11) of the mounting plate body (10) to form the linkage structure ; and the arrowhead-shaped split post (621) at the lower end of the lower connecting rod (62') is inserted into the hole (22) in the containment edge (21) of the base plate body (20) to form the linkage structure ; at the same time, while the support connecting rod (6') embodiment is identical to aforementioned support connecting rod (6) in relation to the utilization and mounting procedures of the mounting plate (1) and the base plate (2) of the invention herein, the tensility of the spring (8) facilitates the easier insertion and removal of the semicircular post (612) in the positioning hole (623).

Furthermore, another preferred embodiment of the invention herein is shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The aforesaid preferred embodiment is mainly comprised of a strip (60) that fictions as the support connecting rod and an vehicle-use foldable beverage holder linkage that consists of lateral walls (11) on the mounting plate (1) and containment edges (21) on the base plate (2) (as indicated in FIG. 8), and that supports the aforesaid mounting plate (1) and base plate (2) in a fixed L-shaped configuration.

In the installation of the strip (60) to the vehicle-use foldable beverage holder, during the molding of the mounting plate (1), an elongated hole (19) must be formed in each of the two lateral walls (11) of the mounting plate body (10) and, furthermore, a detent (191) is formed at the lower end of the aforesaid elongated hole (19); during the molding of the base plate (2), a hole (22') must be molded in each of the two containment edges (21) of the base plate body (20), thereby enabling the link insertion of split rivet (7') in the holes (601) and (602) in each of the two ends of the strip (60) through the aforesaid elongated hole (19) and the aforesaid holes (22'). As the aforesaid strip (60) is being molded, the arrowhead-shaped split posts (603) and (604) are molded at the position of each of the two holes (601) and (602), with the aforesaid two arrowhead-shaped split posts (603) and (604) link inserted through each of the elongated holes (19) and the holes (22'). A minimum of one laterally installed strip (60) must serve as the linkage structure in between the mounting plate (1) and the base plate (2) of the improved vehicle-use foldable beverage holder of the invention herein, and when the aforesaid mounting plate (1) is opened to an approximate vertical state, the split rivet (7') at the upper end of the aforesaid strip (60) or the arrowhead-shaped split post (603) is immovably positioned in the detent (191) at the lower end of the elongated hole (19) in the lateral wall (11) of the aforesaid mounting plate (1) such that the aforesaid strip (60) supports and maintains the aforesaid mounting plate (1) and the base plate (2) in a fixed L-shaped configuration (as indicated in FIG. 6), such that when the adhesive mounting on the underside of the base plate (2) attached to a suitable planer surface, the left clip arm (3a) and the right clip arm (3b) of the aforesaid mounting plate (1) holding the beverage cup or beverage can will not slant forward. Following utilization, one finger is utilized to push the aforesaid strip (60) forward and out of the detent (191) at the lower end of the aforesaid elongated hole (19), while another finger moves the aforesaid mounting plate (1) frontally to achieve the post-utilization folded state, as depicted in FIG. 2.

Referrina to FIG. 3, the post (102), which is of a general semi-circular shape, and the lock tabs (101) of the two lateral walls (11) of the aforesaid mounting plate body (10) are formed at the same time that the mounting plate body (10) of the aforesaid mounting plate (1) is being molded, furthermore, while the aforesaid base plate (2) of the base plate body (20) is being molded, two holes (23) in mutual alignment are formed in the two lateral containment edges (21) of the base plate body (20) to enable, when the aforesaid mounting plate (1) is directly fastened by means of screws or an adhesive to an appropriate vertical surface of the vehicle interior during usage, the attachment of the base plate (2) onto the mounting plate (1) and the accurate positioning of the aforesaid said two lock tabs (101) that are secured to the aforesaid base plate (2), thereby preventing the occurrence of separation and opening (as indicated in FIG. 8) and, furthermore, the generation of irritating noise from the continuous opening movement when the host vehicle is driven on sloped roads. When the aforesaid base plate (2) is covering the mounting plate (1), since the two lateral containment edges (21) of the base plate body (20) press against the lock tabs (101) on the two sides of the mounting plate body (10), causing the aforesaid lock tabs (101) to slant inward, such that after the base plate (2) is completely affixed onto the aforesaid mounting plate (1), the aforesaid two lock tabs (101) continue to exert outward tension and remain in place, enabling the outer ends of the posts (102) to stay inserted in the holes (23) in the two lateral containment edges (21) of the base body plate (20) and, as a result, the aforesaid two lock tabs (101) must be situated at a flexible position; therefore, when the aforesaid lock tabs (101) are molded on the two lateral walls (11) of the aforesaid mounting plate body (10), openings (103) must be formed in between the lock tabs (101) and the aforesaid two lateral walls (11) to enable the aforesaid lock tabs (101) to slant inward and rebound outward.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A kind of improved vehicle-use foldable beverage holder of the invention herein is mainly comprised of a mounting plate, a base plate, a left clip arm, a right clip arm, and a clip arm rod, of which the innovations include: the aforesaid mounting plate has a hole in each of the two lateral walls of the mounting plate body, or an elongated hole is formed in each of the aforesaid two lateral walls of the aforesaid mounting plate body and, furthermore, there is a rearward detent at the lower end of the aforesaid elongated hole, and the aforesaid base plate has one hole or more in each < of the two lateral containment edges of the base plate body; a support connecting rod that is comprised of an upper connecting rod that consists of a long strip with an arrowhead-shaped split post on the inner side of the upper end, a semicircular post and a through-hole in the outer side of the lower end and, furthermore, a positioning tab on the edge below the aforesaid through-hole and the aforesaid semicircular post; a lower connecting rod that consists of a long strip with an arrowhead-shaped split post formed at the outer side of the lower end and at the inner side of the upper end, respectively, and, furthermore, a positioning hole proximal to the upper end of the aforesaid long strip; the aforesaid arrowhead-shaped split post at the upper end of the aforesaid lower connecting rod is inserted into the aforementioned through-hole in the lower end of the aforementioned upper connecting rod to form the movable linkage structure of the aforementioned support connecting rod, and the aforementioned arrowhead-shaped split post at the upper end of the aforementioned upper connecting rod is inserted into the aforementioned hole in the aforementioned lateral wall of the aforementioned mounting plate body, thereby forming a movable linkage structure; furthermore, the aforesaid arrowhead-shaped split post at the lower end of the of the aforesaid lower connecting rod is inserted into the aforementioned hole in the aforementioned containment edge of the aforementioned base plate body, enabling the movable linkage of the aforesaid support connecting rod to be maintained in a stationary configuration of approximately 130 degrees in between the aforementioned mounting plate and the aforementioned base plate and utilized to supportively maintain the aforesaid mounting plate and base plate in a fixed L-shaped configuration; strips that have one hole formed at each of the two ends for the link insertion of split rivets through the aforesaid elongated holes in the aforesaid lateral walls of the aforesaid mounting plate as well as through the aforesaid holes in the aforesaid containment edges of the aforesaid base plate; or that have arrowheadshaped split post formed at each of the two ends that are link inserted through the aforesaid elongated holes in the lateral walls of the aforesaid mounting plate as well as though the aforesaid holes in the aforesaid containment edges of the aforesaid base plate, both of which enable the aforesaid mounting plate and base plate to be supported in a fixed L-shaped configuration; a decorative cover plate that consists of a plate body having a containment edge formed along the entire perimeter and a minimum of two split posts formed on the inner side, which are inserted into the fastener holes at rear of the aforesaid mounting plate body or which may consist of another type of decorative cover plate having an containment edge at the upper end and a separation at the lower end, but the aforesaid cover plate body must also have L-shaped lips along the two sides of the aforesaid containment edge and a minimum of one beveled tab adjacent to the aforesaid containment edge on the inner side of the , aforesaid cover plate body, which enables the aforesaid L-shaped lips at the upper extent of the aforesaid mounting plate to fit over the protruding strips on the two sides of the aforesaid mounting plate body and thereby be insertion fastened to the rear surface of the aforesaid mounting plate
2. As mentioned in Claim 1 of the improved vehicle-use foldable beverage holder of the invention herein, the aforementioned mounting plate is comprised of a lock tab on the leading end at the outer side of the each of the two lateral walls of the aforesaid mounting plate body, with openings formed on both sides of the aforesaid lock tabs; furthermore, the aforesaid base plate has a hole in each of the two lateral containment edges of the base plate body, when the aforesaid mounting plate is installed and utilized and the aforesaid base plate is covered onto the aforesaid mounting plate after completion of usage, the aforesaid two lock tabs are accurately secured into the aforesaid holes in the aforesaid two containment edges of the aforesaid base plateto prevent the occurrence of separation, opening and falling; furthermore, the generation of irritating noise from the continuous opening movement when the host vehicle is driven on sloped roads
3. As mentioned in Claim 1 of the improved vehicle-use foldable beverage t holder of the invention herein, the aforementioned support connecting rod is comprised of the aforementioned lower connecting rod having the aforementioned through-hole at the upper end that enables the placement of a spring through which a split rivet in inserted to form the movable linkage structure with the aforementioned upper connecting rod.
4. A beverage holder comprising a mounting plate for attachment to a support surface, a base plate which is pivotably connected to the mounting plate, and beverage container engaging means which is pivotably connected to the mounting plate whereby, when the beverage holder is deployed in use, the beverage container engaging means is disposed above the base plate to retain a beverage container supported on the base plate, releasable retaining means being provided to retain the base plate in the deployed condition.
5. A beverage holder substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, Figures I to 7 of the accompanying drawings.