DE20020826U1 - Device for holding containers - Google Patents

Description

PATENT ATTORNEYS ·..*·..·* .!. .:!. * Ä&eneeihöhen:

DIPL ING CONRAD KÖCHLING ^Note: Sarnatech

__.._._ .*» . ~. .... .^M««.· ■■ ■ ».,» Paulmann & Crone GmbH

DIPL ING CONRAD-JOACHIM KOCHLING Lösenbacher Landstrasse

PO Box 20 69 - D-58020 Hagen _n ..... _T ... ,.,

Fleyer Strasse 135 - D-58097 Hagen D-58509 Ludenscheid

Telephone: (+49)-(0)2331 8 11 64 + 986610
Fax: (+49)-(0)2331 9866111
E-mail:Patentanwaelte.Koechling@t-online.de

Accounts: Commerzbank AG, Hagen 3 515 095 (bank code 450 400 42)
Sparkasse Hagen 100 012 043 (bank code 450 500 01)
Postbank: Dortmund 5989 - 4BO (bank code 440 100 46)

VNR: 11 58 51

Serial No. 13621/00 CJK/Bo.

_dated 07 December 2000

Device for holding containers

The invention relates to a device for holding containers, in particular beverage cans, cups or similar drinking vessels, for installation in walls, consoles, shelves, armrests or similar parts of vehicles having an installation space, with a frame or housing that can be installed in the corresponding part and a drawer that can be extended from the frame or housing or pushed into the frame or housing and has at least one receptacle for placing a container, wherein the receptacle is formed by a wall part of the drawer and a pivot arm that is held on the drawer so that it can pivot to a limited extent, wherein preferably a spring acting on the pivot arm is provided, wherein a support surface for the container is also formed on the drawer.

Such a device is known from DE 44 41 265 A 1. In the known device, the corresponding drawer has two storage spaces for containers, whereby corresponding contours are exposed in the drawer to form the storage spaces. Below these contours, support surfaces are provided for the corresponding containers, which can be swiveled in when the drawer is pushed in and swivel out when the drawer is pushed out, so that the corresponding support surfaces protrude downwards over the drawer. In order to be able to accommodate containers of different diameters, in particular in a diameter range of 53 to 66 mm, a wall surrounding the container is formed by a swivel arm in the area of the storage space. This swivel arm is hinged to the drawer at one end, while the other end is free. The swivel arm is bent in a semicircular shape there. In addition, the swivel arm is coupled to a spring, so that when not in use, the swivel arm assumes the largest possible swivel position. To store larger containers, the swivel arm can be manually swiveled out against spring force.

With such a design, it is possible to adjust containers with different diameters, but the spring-loaded swivel arm acts on the container wall, so that, particularly with relatively soft containers such as paper cups or the like, there is a risk that the container will be pressed in by the swivel arm. This arrangement also has the disadvantage that the user has to manually adjust the swivel arm back to the desired position every time the container is removed from the device in order to be able to adjust the corresponding container.

Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the object of creating a device of the generic type in which the setting of an identical container, for example when the container is used multiple times, is possible without special adjustment of the device, wherein, in addition, the swivel arm encompasses the setting space for the container with as little force as possible, without acting on the wall of the container and exerting compressive forces.

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To solve this problem, it is proposed that the swivel arm can be adjusted to different swivel positions.

The locking arrangement of the swivel arm makes it possible to manually adjust the swivel arm to the desired position when the device is in use and the drawer is pulled out, so that a suitable container can be placed in the space surrounded by the swivel arm and housing part. If the container is removed, for example to drink from it, and then the container is placed back in the holder, this is possible without having to handle the swivel arm again, as the swivel arm is held in a certain position by locking. In addition, the locking holder of the swivel arm ensures that the swivel arm does not act on the wall of the inserted container under the influence of force, for example under the effect of a spring force, but rather the swivel arm rests practically forcelessly against the wall of the corresponding container. There is therefore no risk of the container becoming deformed.

A particularly preferred further training is
seen that on the swivel arm, on an extension projecting beyond its articulation point and aimed into a cavity in the drawer, a plunger with a locking tooth at the end is held telescopically displaceable against the force of a spring and that in the cavity of the drawer a toothing is formed into which the locking tooth engages, the toothing having a row of teeth corresponding to the swivel path of the swivel arm.

According to this design, the swivel arm extends beyond its pivot point into a cavity in the loading
extended in a directed direction. In the
Extension is a pusher against the force of a
Spring is telescopically movable and at its free end, which is the extension
Opposite this end with the locking tooth, a
Housing wall in the cavity a corresponding
Toothing is formed into which the locking tooth engages. The toothing is formed on a circular arc-like section that corresponds to the pivoting path of the pivot arm.

or of the tappet held by the pivotable mechanism. The teeth consist of a row of teeth into which the locking tooth of the tappet can engage depending on the pivoting position. This ensures that, depending on the pivoting of the pivot arm, the arm is held in a locking position in every intermediate position and in the end positions. This enables the user, for example, to first place a container in the corresponding receptacle with the pivot arm pivoted open as far as possible and then to press the pivot arm against the container wall and pivot it, with the locking tooth engaging in the corresponding teeth according to the pivoting path and securing the position. If the container is then removed from the device, the preselected position of the locking arm is retained so that the user can place the same container in the device without having to manipulate the locking arm again. This also ensures that the pivot arm does not act on the wall of the container in place due to spring force or the like.

It is particularly preferred that the plunger is guided in a linearly displaceable manner in the extension.

For example, the extension can be a tubular nozzle with a polygonal cross-section, into which the plunger with a corresponding cross-section contour is inserted and is thus linearly displaceable but non-rotatable.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that a helical compression spring is clamped between the plunger end located in the extension and a wall of the extension.

According to this design, the plunger can be pushed back under increasing preload of the spring when overrunning the teeth and then pushed forward again under the force of the spring, so that the different locking positions can be set safely and with gentle handling of the material.

A particularly preferred further development is seen in the fact that a preferably

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spring-loaded guide pin is held, which is movable parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot arm, that in the cavity of the drawer a wall part is formed which extends parallel to the direction of adjustment of the plunger and has a guide groove into which the guide pin engages in one of two possible positions, wherein in this position the locking tooth of the plunger is arranged at a distance from the row of teeth of the toothing, wherein a guide ramp is formed at one end area of the guide groove, so that the guide pin slides out of the guide groove when it reaches the ramp and the plunger is displaced by spring force towards the row of teeth and its locking tooth is in engagement with the toothing, and furthermore the guide pin is supported on a surface formed between the guide groove and the toothing, which corresponds to the second possible position, wherein furthermore at the end of the guide groove facing away from the ramp the toothing merges into a guide edge, against which the plunger with the locking tooth is placed and is pushed back into the extension against spring force, so that in the pushed-back position the guide pin is preferably spring-loaded falls back into the guide groove.

This design makes it possible to move the swivel arm from one end position, which corresponds for example to the maximum swivel position, into further swiveled-in positions in order to be able to hold containers with a smaller diameter. When the other end position is reached, i.e. for example the maximum swivel position, the plunger is guided along the guide edge that adjoins the toothing and is pushed back in the direction of the swivel arm joint. In this pushed-back position, the preferably spring-loaded guide pin slides into the guide groove so that the plunger is held in the retracted position and does not engage with the toothing. If the swivel arm is released in this position, it swings back into the starting position by itself under the effect of a return spring acting on the swivel arm. When the end position is reached, the guide pin slides onto the ramp of the guide groove so that it slides out of the guide groove and the plunger is pushed in the direction of the toothing due to the spring force acting on it. In this position, the

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The guide pin rests on the surface formed between the guide groove and the teeth, so that the plunger can spring in and out according to the teeth until the other end position is reached and the guide pin is returned and locked so that the swivel arm is moved back to its basic position. By designing the guide groove, the ramp and the guide edge accordingly, it is possible to use one or the other end position to lock the guide pin or to release the guide pin from the lock in the guide groove.

Preferably, it is also provided that the swivel arm can be adjusted from the maximum swivel position into the swivel position against spring force.

It can also be provided that the ramp is formed at the end of the guide groove in which the plunger is located in the maximum pivoting position of the pivot arm.

Preferably, it is also provided that the teeth are sawtooth-shaped, with the steeply

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rising tooth flank is effectively directed in the swinging direction of the swivel arm.

In this way, a secure locking mechanism is ensured, although the sawtooth-like design of the teeth is preferably designed in such a way that pivoting against the steeply rising tooth flank is also possible without destroying device parts.

Instead of the forced guidance and unlocking by means of a guide groove and guide pin, a manual handle can also be provided on the plunger so that the plunger can be manually retracted by manipulating the handle in order to be able to move the swivel arm back to its original position. The handle for the plunger can protrude from the underside so that it can be operated by the user from underneath the drawer.

By using suitable dimensions, it is possible to design the device so that it can be used for container sizes from 52 mm up to 84 mm. An advantage that

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Another advantage of the design according to the invention is that even when the drawer is pushed into the housing, the relative position of the swivel arm is maintained, so that when the drawer is pushed out again, the swivel arm is in a position which corresponds to the container dimension which the user had previously set in the device.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and described in more detail below. It shows:

Figure 1

a device according to the invention schematically seen in an oblique view from above;

Figure 2

a detail of figure 1 seen from below;

Figure 3

a section taken along line III/III in Figure 2;

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Figure 4 the device in view

according to Figure 2 shortly before reaching the maximum pivoting position of the pivot arm, which is shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view analogous to Figures 2 and 4,

wherein the swivel arm is arranged in the maximum swivel position;

Figure 6 shows the position according to Figure 5 in

a swivel arm displaced to an intermediate position;

Figure 7 is an oblique view in the

Position as seen in Figure 4.

In Figure 1, a device for holding containers, for example beverage cans, cups or similar drinking vessels, is shown obliquely from above. Such a device is designed for installation in walls, consoles, shelves, armrests or similar parts of vehicles or similar

elements. It has a drawer 2 which can be pushed into the housing or pulled out from the housing, for example by spring force support, which in the exemplary embodiment has two receptacles 3 for placing a container. The drawer 2 can be pushed into the housing 1 in a manner known per se against spring force and locked in this inserted position in a suitable manner, whereby the locking can be released, for example, by pressure on the front part 4 of the drawer 2 and then the drawer 2 can be slowed down under the effect of the spring force if necessary and can be moved out of the housing 1 into the position shown in Figure 1 by a viscosity brake.

The receptacle 3 for a container is formed by a wall part 5 of the drawer 2 and a swivel arm 6, which is held on the drawer so that it can pivot to a limited extent. Preferably, a spring acting on the swivel arm 6 is provided, which moves it into one of the possible end positions (alternatively). Furthermore, a support surface 7 for a

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to be adjusted, wherein this support surface 7 can be pivoted in a manner known per se, or is pivoted in automatically when the drawer 2 is pushed into the housing and pivots out automatically when the drawer 2 is pushed out of the housing 1.

According to the invention, the swivel arm 6 can be locked into different swivel positions. In the maximum swiveled-open position, the swivel arm 6 completes the holder 3 with the corresponding wall surface 5 of the drawer 2 to form an approximately circular shape.

A plunger 11 with a locking tooth 12 at the end is held telescopically against the force of a spring 13 on the swivel arm 6 on an extension 9 which projects beyond its articulation point 8 and is directed into a cavity 10 of the drawer 2. In the cavity 10 of the drawer 2, opposite the locking tooth 12 of the plunger 11, a toothing 14 is formed, in which the locking tooth 12 alternatively engages. The toothing 14 has a

The swivel arm 6 has a row of teeth shaped accordingly for the swivel path of the swivel arm 6 or the tappet 11 coupled to it. The tappet 11 is guided in the extension so that it can be moved linearly but cannot rotate. A helical compression spring is clamped as a spring element 13 between the end of the tappet 11 located in the extension 9 and a wall of the extension, as can be seen in particular from Figures 2 and 3.

A spring-loaded guide pin 15 is held on the tappet 11 and can move parallel to the pivot axis (at 8) of the pivot arm 6. In the cavity 10 of the drawer 2, a flat wall part is formed which extends parallel to the direction of travel of the tappet 11 and has a guide groove 16 into which the guide pin 15 engages in the position shown in Figures 1 and 3. In this position, the locking tooth of the tappet 11 is kept at a distance from the row of teeth of the toothing 14. If the pivot arm now pivots from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 5 due to the force of a return spring 17,

the guide pin 15 runs onto a guide ramp 17 and thus slides out of the guide groove 16. By means of the spring 13 acting on it, the plunger 11 is then moved towards the toothing 14 and its locking tooth 12 engages with the first tooth of the toothing 14. The guide pin 15 then rests on a surface 18 formed between the guide groove 16 and the toothing 14, without hindering the movement of the plunger 11. At the end of the guide groove 16 facing away from the ramp 17, the toothing 14 merges into a guide edge 19, against which the locking tooth 12 of the plunger 11 is placed. The shape of the guide edge 19 pushes the plunger 11 back into the position shown in Figure 2, with the guide pin 15 then falling back into the guide groove 16. The locking tooth 12 thus remains disengaged from the toothing 14, so that the swivel arm 6 moves back into the maximum swiveled-open position, which is shown in Figure 5, due to the spring force and effect of the spring 17. While in Figures 2, 3 and also 7 the fully swiveled-in or almost fully swiveled-in position

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Position of the swivel arm 6 is shown in Figure 6, an intermediate position is shown in which the swivel arm 6 is partially swiveled in to reduce the size of the receptacle for the container. Figure 4 shows a position of the swivel arm 6 which serves to clamp the smallest possible container.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment, but is variable in many ways within the scope of the disclosure.

All new individual and combination features disclosed in the description and/or drawing are considered essential to the invention.

Claims (8)

1. Device for holding containers, in particular beverage cans, cups or similar drinking vessels, for installation in walls, consoles, shelves, armrests or similar parts of vehicles having an installation space, with a frame or housing ( 1 ) that can be installed in the corresponding part and a drawer ( 2 ) that can be extended from the frame or housing ( 1 ) or pushed into the frame or housing ( 1 ), which has at least one receptacle ( 3 ) for placing a container, the receptacle being formed by a wall part ( 5 ) of the drawer ( 2 ) and a swivel arm ( 6 ) that is held on the drawer ( 2 ) in a limitedly pivotable manner, a spring ( 20 ) acting on the swivel arm ( 6 ) preferably being provided, a support surface ( 7 ) for the container being formed on the drawer ( 2 ), characterized in that the swivel arm ( 6 ) can be locked into different pivot positions is adjustable. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that on the pivot arm ( 6 ) on an extension ( 9 ) projecting beyond its articulation point ( 8 ) and directed into a cavity ( 10 ) of the drawer ( 2 ), a plunger ( 11 ) with a locking tooth ( 12 ) at the end is held telescopically displaceable against the force of a spring ( 13 ), and that in the cavity ( 10 ) of the drawer ( 2 ) a toothing ( 14 ) is formed, into which the locking tooth ( 12 ) engages, the toothing ( 14 ) having a row of teeth corresponding to the pivoting path of the pivot arm ( 6 ). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the plunger ( 11 ) is guided in the extension ( 9 ) so as to be linearly displaceable. 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a helical compression spring ( 13 ) is clamped between the plunger end located in the extension ( 9 ) and a wall of the extension ( 9 ). 5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that a preferably spring-loaded guide pin ( 15 ) is held on the tappet ( 11 ), which is movable parallel to the pivot axis ( 8 ) of the pivot arm ( 6 ), that in the cavity ( 10 ) of the drawer ( 2 ) a wall part is formed which extends parallel to the direction of adjustment of the tappet ( 11 ), which has a guide groove ( 16 ) into which the guide pin ( 15 ) engages in one of two possible positions, wherein in this position the locking tooth ( 12 ) of the tappet ( 11 ) is arranged at a distance from the row of teeth of the toothing ( 14 ), wherein at one end region of the guide groove ( 16 ) a guide ramp ( 17 ) is formed, so that the guide pin ( 15 ) on reaching the ramp ( 17 ) comes out of the guide groove (16). 16 ) and the plunger ( 11 ) is displaced towards the row of teeth by means of spring force and its locking tooth ( 12 ) is in engagement with the toothing ( 14 ), and furthermore the guide pin ( 15 ) is supported on a surface ( 18 ) formed between the guide groove ( 16 ) and the toothing ( 14 ), which corresponds to the second possible position, wherein furthermore at the end of the guide groove ( 16 ) facing away from the ramp ( 17 ) the toothing ( 14 ) merges into a guide edge ( 19 ) against which the plunger ( 11 ) with the locking tooth ( 12 ) is placed and is pushed back into the extension ( 9 ) against spring force, so that in the pushed-back position the guide pin ( 15 ) preferably spring-loadedly falls back into the guide groove ( 16 ). 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pivot arm ( 6 ) is adjustable from the maximum pivoted-in position into the pivoted-out position against spring force. 7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the ramp ( 17 ) is formed at the end of the guide groove ( 16 ) in which the plunger ( 11 ) is located in the maximum pivoting position of the pivot arm ( 6 ). 8. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the toothing ( 14 ) is designed like a sawtooth, the steeply rising tooth flank being effectively directed in the pivoting direction of the pivot arm ( 6 ).