Container holder

Claim 2

A container holder for a vehicle comprising: a receptacle member including a sidewall; a container holder member pivotally mounted to said receptacle member for movement between a closed position for storage inside said receptacle member and an open position outside of said receptacle member for use; an arm pivotally attached about an axis of rotation to said container holder member for movement between a retracted position for storage and an extended position in which said container holder member and said arm form an aperture adapted to receive a beverage container, said arm including an actuator spaced from the axis of rotation defined by the arm but in a position on said arm that is generally hidden from view; a catch located on said sidewall for operably engaging said actuator to pivot said arm to the extended position as said container holder member is moved to the open position; and means for moving said arm to the retracted position when said container holder is moved to the closed position.

Claim 3

A container holder as defined in claim 1 including means for automatically pivoting said container holder member to the open position.

Claim 4

A container holder as defined in claim 2 including a push-open latch for latching said container holder in the closed position.

Claim 5

A container holder as defined in claim 1 in which the means for moving said arm to the retracted position is a cam means provided in combination with said catch.

Claim 6

A container holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said container holder member includes a second sidewall spaced from said receptacle member sidewall, and said actuator extends into the space defined between the planes of said container holder sidewall and said receptacle member sidewall.

Claim 7

A container holder as defined in claim 5 wherein said sidewalls include opposing surfaces between and along which said actuator slides, said surfaces controlling the angular movement of said actuator and said arm as said container holder is being moved.

Claim 8

A container holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator is a protrusion that extends downwardly below said arm.

Claim 9

A container holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said arm includes a pivot means and said container holder includes an aperture for pivotally receiving said pivot means to pivotally mount said arm to said container holder, and wherein said pivot means and said actuator are parallel pin-like members.

Claim 10

A container holder as defined in claim 8 wherein said actuator is a protrusion and a web is provided connecting said protrusion and pivot means whereby said web stabilizes said protrusion and pivot means.

Claim 11

A container holder as defined in claim 1 including a second arm, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said first and second arms so that said arms move simultaneously to the retracted position and also to the extended position as the first arm is actuated by said actuator and said means for moving said arm.

Claim 12

A container holder as defined in claim 10 wherein said interconnecting means includes a slot in one of said arms and a pin in the other of said arms, said pin being slideably disposed in said slot.

Claim 13

A container holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said catch includes a depression in said receptacle member sidewall.

Claim 14

A container holder for a vehicle comprising: a receptacle member including a sidewall; a container holder member movably mounted to said receptacle member for movement between a closed position for storage inside said receptacle member and an open position outside of said receptacle member for use; a pair of arms movably attached about an axis of rotation to said container holder member for movement in a common plane between a retracted position for storage and an extended position in which said container holder member and said arms form a pair of apertures adapted to receive beverage containers, one of said arms including a protrusion spaced from the axis of rotation defined by the one arm; engaging means on said receptacle member for operably engaging said protrusion to pivot said one arm to the extended position as said container holder member is moved to the open position and to pivot said one arm to the retracted position as said container holder member is moved to the closed position; and interconnecting means for interconnecting said arms so that said arms move simultaneously to the retracted position and also to the extended position as said one arm is actuated by said protrusion and said engaging means.

Claim 15

A container holder for a vehicle comprising: a receptacle member including a sidewall; a container holder member movably mounted to said receptacle member for movement between a closed position for storage inside said receptacle member and an open position outside of said receptacle member for use; a pair of arms movably attached about an axis of rotation to said container holder member for movement in a common plane between a retracted position for storage and an extended position in which said container holder member and said arms form a pair of apertures adapted to receive beverage containers, one of said arms including a protrusion spaced from the axis of rotation defined by the one arm; engaging means on said receptacle member for operably engaging said protrusion to pivot said one arm to the extended position as said container holder member is moved to the open position and to pivot said one arm to the retracted position as said container holder member is moved to the closed position; and interconnecting means for interconnecting said arms so that said arms move simultaneously to the retracted position and also to the extended position as said one arm is actuated by said protrusion and said engaging means.

Claim 16

A container holder as defined in claim 13 including means for automatically pivoting said container holder to the open position.

Claim 17

A container holder as defined in claim 14 including a push-open latch for latching sad container holder in the closed position.

Claim 18

A container holder as defined in claim 13 wherein said one arm includes a pivot means and said container holder includes an aperture for pivotally receiving said pivot means to pivotally mount said one arm to said container holder, and wherein said pivot means and said actuator are parallel pin-like members.

Claim 19

A container holder as defined in claim 13 wherein said engaging means includes a catch for engaging the protrusion to move said one arm to the open position, and further includes a cam means for engaging the protrusion to move said one arm to the closed position.

Claim 20

A container holder as defined in claim 13 wherein said container holder member includes a second sidewall spaced from said receptacle member sidewall, and said protrusion extends into the space defined between said sidewalls.

Claim 21

A container holder as defined in claim 13 wherein said interconnecting means includes a slot in one of said arms and a pin in the other of said arms, said pin being slideably disposed in said slot.

Claim 22

A container holder for a vehicle comprising: a receptacle member including first and second sidewalls; a container holder member movably mounted to said receptacle member between said first and second sidewalls, said container holder being movable between a closed position for storage and an open position for use, said container holder member including a third sidewall spaced from and parallel to said first sidewall; an arm movably attached to said container holder member for movement between a retracted position for storage and an extended position in which said container holder member and said arm form an aperture adapted to receive a beverage container, said arm including a protrusion spaced from the axis of rotation defined by the arm, said protrusion being positioned between the planes of said first and third sidewalls; and engaging means on said first sidewall for operably engaging said protrusion so that said arm pivots to the extended position as said container holder member is moved to the open position, said first sidewall on said receptacle and said third sidewall on said container holder member cooperating to control said protrusion and hence move said arm to the retracted and extended positions.

Claim 23

A container holder for a vehicle comprising: a receptacle member including first and second sidewalls; a container holder member movably mounted to said receptacle member between said first and second sidewalls, said container holder being movable between a closed position for storage and an open position for use, said container holder member including a third sidewall spaced from and parallel to said first sidewall; an arm movably attached to said container holder member for movement between a retracted position for storage and an extended position in which said container holder member and said arm form an aperture adapted to receive a beverage container, said arm including a protrusion spaced from the axis of rotation defined by the arm, said protrusion being positioned between the planes of said first and third sidewalls; and engaging means on said first sidewall for operably engaging said protrusion so that said arm pivots to the extended position as said container holder member is moved to the open position, said first sidewall on said receptacle and said third sidewall on said container holder member cooperating to control said protrusion and hence move said arm to the retracted and extended positions.