Claims:We Claim:
1. An arrangement 100 for holding an article in a vehicle interior, the arrangement 100 comprising:
a holder 110 for receiving and gripping the article;
at least one flexible member 120 which is biased resiliently for holding different size of articles;
wherein, the flexible member 120 is an elongated member having a first end 120a that is connected with the holder 110 and having a second end 120b that is adapted to be locked with the holder 110.
2. The arrangement 100 for holding an article in a vehicle interior as claimed in claim 1, the holder 110 and the flexible member 120 are integral.

3. The arrangement 100 for holding an article in a vehicle interior as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein a hook 122 is extending from the holder 110, the hook 122 facilitates in the mounting of the flexible member 120 on the holder 110, and a locking arrangement is arranged on the second end 120b, locking the second end 120b with the hook 122 of the holder 110 to form a loop configuration of the flexible member 120.

4. The arrangement 100 for holding an article in a vehicle interior as claimed in claim 1, 2 & 3, wherein the hook 122 is detachable from the holder 110.
5. The arrangement 100 for holding an article inside a vehicle interior as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking arrangement of the second end 120b is having a cavity 124, 134 to lock in a locking pin 126, 136 arranged on the hook 122 of the holder 110.

6. The arrangement 100 for holding an article in a vehicle interior as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end 120a is having a living hinge for providing the additional resiliently to the flexible member 120.

7. The arrangement 100 for holding an article in a vehicle interior as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder 110 and the flexible member 120 are of different material.

8. A method 200 for manufacturing an arrangement 100 for holding an article in a vehicle interior, the method 200 comprising the steps of injection moulding a plastic substrate to form a holder 110 and a flexible member 120, wherein the flexible member is an elongated member having a first end 120a that is connected with the holder 110 and having a second end 120b that is adapted to be locked with the holder 110.

9. A method 200 as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first end 120a of the flexible member 120 has a living hinge 130 and the second end 120b of the flexible member 120 is lockable with a holder, the flexible member 120 can be rotated at the living hinge 130 portion and locks with the holder 110 for holding articles inside the holder 110.
10. The method 200 as claimed in claim 8, wherein the flexible member 120 and the holder 110 is made on a single mould.
, Description:Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a holding arrangement in a vehicle interior. More particularly, the present invention relates to an arrangement for holding article in the vehicle interior, such as a cup holder.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Holding arrangements inside a vehicle, such as cup holders are commonly used mechanisms to hold a cup of water, tea, coffee or any other beverages and article in vehicles. Cup holders can be a simple cavity provided on an armrest or a middle console or instrument panel of the vehicle to hold cups. These holding arrangements have to adapt cups or cans of variable sizes and shapes. Either the cups or cans have to be in similar sizes and shapes or the holding arrangements have to provide a unique configuration to adapt cup holders of different size and shapes. These configurations may be achieved by providing an extending mechanism for the holding arrangements or by utilisation of sensors. These may be costly, and the mechanism may be complex in nature.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to provide an arrangement for holding article such as cup or can inside the vehicle interior, which overcomes few or all of the drawbacks of the existing holding arrangements.

Objects of the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for holding article, such as a cup or a can inside a vehicle interior.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for holding article, which are adapted to accommodate cup or can of different sizes.

[0006] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for holding articles, which has a simple construction design and has a lesser complex assembly.

[0007] Still an object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for holding articles, which is aesthetically pleasing.

[0008] Further an object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for holding articles, which is easy to operate and economical in construction and can be replaced easily.

[0009] One more object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for holding articles, which is robust in construction.

Summary of the invention

[0010] According to the present invention, an arrangement for holding an article in a vehicle interior is provided. The arrangement is a cup holder inside the vehicle to accommodate article, such as cup or can of beverages of different sizes and shapes. The arrangement includes a holder and at least one flexible member. The holder is for receiving and gripping the article such as cup or a can.

[0011] The flexible member is connected to the holder for providing support to the lower side portions of the article and to accommodate different size of article. The flexible member is an elongated member or a strap having a first end and a second end. The first end of the flexible member is connected to the holder and the second end is connectable to a hook extending from the holder. The hook facilitates in the mounting the flexible member on the holder. In an embodiment, the hook is detachable from the holder. Further, the second end of the flexible member can be attached to the holder to form a loop configuration of the flexible member. In the present embodiment, the flexible member and holder is an integral single part.

[0012] Further, a locking arrangement is arranged on the second end, locking the second end with the hook of the holder to place the flexible member in a loop configuration. The locking arrangement can be a press fit arrangement or push lock arrangement or slide to lock arrangement. In an embodiment, the hook extending from the holder may have a locking pin and the second end may have a cavity. The locking pin is adapted to lock the cavity of the second end to form a loop configuration of the flexible member.

[0013] Further, the flexible member is having a living hinge arranged on the first end. The living hinge enables a hinge movement of the flexible member and to provide additional resiliently to the flexible member. The living hinge and the loop configuration apply a biasing force on the article held in the holder thereby adapting the holder to hold article of different sizes. Further, the flexible member and the holder may be made of two different materials.

[0014] Further, a method for manufacturing an arrangement for holding an article in a vehicle interior in accordance with the present invention is provided. The method includes the steps of injection moulding a plastic substrate to form the holder and the flexible member. The flexible member is an elongated member having a first end that is connected with the holder and having a second end that is adapted to be locked with the holder. The flexible member having the living hinge at a first end and is lockable with the holder at the second end. The flexible member can be rotated at the living hinge portion and locks with the holder for holding articles inside the holder. Further, the flexible member and the holder may be made on a single mould.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] The advantages and features of the present invention will be understood better with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

[0016] Figure 1 illustrates an arrangement for holding an article in accordance with the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 illustrates another view of the arrangement for holding the article;

[0018] Figure 3 illustrates a flexible member in a loop configuration with a first locking arrangement;

[0019] Figure 4 illustrates the flexible member in a loop configuration with a second locking arrangement;

[0020] Figure 5 illustrates the flexible member with second end of flexible member in unlatched position.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0021] An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words "comprising, "having, "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

[0022] The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “an” and “a” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

[0023] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0024] Referring to figures 1 and 2, an arrangement 100 for holding an article in a vehicle interior in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The arrangement 100 is a cup holder inside the vehicle to accommodate an article, such as cup or can of beverage of different sizes and shapes. The arrangement 100 includes a holder 110 and at least one flexible member 120. The holder 110 is for receiving and gripping the article, such as cup or can. The holder 110 can be attached to an interior trim panel such as instrument panel, door panel, on arm support or alike of the vehicle interior. The holder 110 may have a larger circumference for accommodating cup of different sizes. In the present embodiment, the holder 110 is a circular member to receive and hold circular but not limited to circular shapes of cup or can. Specifically, the holder 110 has no lower support for supporting the article. The flexible members 120 attached to the holder 110 support the article held in the holder 110. The present embodiment is shown to provide three flexible members 120 configured on the holder 110. Each of these flexible members 120 are arranged adjacent to each other to hold the article.

[0025] The flexible member 120 is connected to the holder 110 for providing support to the lower side portions of the article and to accommodate different size of article. The flexible member 120 is an elongated member or a strap having a first end 120a and a second end 120b. The first end 120a of the flexible member 120 is connected to the holder 110 and the second end 120b is connectable to a hook 122 extending from the holder 110. The hook 122 facilitates in the mounting of the flexible member 120 on the holder 110. In an embodiment, the hook 122 may be detachable from the holder 110, therefore, in case of any damage, the flexible member 120 can be replaced easily.

[0026] Further, the second end 120b of the flexible member 120 can be attached to the holder 110 to form a loop configuration of the flexible member 120 as shown in figures 3 and 4. In the present embodiment, the flexible member 120 and the holder 110 is an integral single part. A locking arrangement is arranged on the second end 120b, locking the second end 120b with the hook 122 of the holder 110 to place the flexible member 120 in a loop configuration. The locking arrangement enables the locking of the first end 120a with the second end 120b to configure the loop configuration. The locking arrangement can be a press fit arrangement or push lock arrangement or slide to lock arrangement.

[0027] The present invention is shown to provide two locking arrangements. In a first locking arrangement as shown in figure 3, the hook 122 extending from the holder 110 is configured with a locking pin 126 and the second end 120b is having a cavity 124. The locking pin 126 can be locked inside the cavity 124 of the second end 120b to configure the loop configuration. Specifically, the cavity 124 is pressed against the locking pin 126 to press fit the locking pin 126 to configure the loop configuration of the flexible member 120.

[0028] In a second locking arrangement as shown in figure 4, the hook 122 extending from the holder 110 is provided with a locking pin 136 and the second end 120b is configured with a cavity 134. Specifically, the locking pin 136 is a spindle widens across the width of the flexible member 120. The cavity 134 is a slit/grove widens across the width of the flexible member 120. The locking pin 136 is adapted to slide inside the cavity 134 to configure the loop configuration. The loop configuration is in a curved configuration or profile, specifically curved inward towards a central axis of the holder 110 allowing the flexible member 120 to support the article of different sizes or shapes. It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to provide a similar locking arrangement between the first end 120a and the second end 120b to configure the loop configuration. The locking pin 126 can be unlatched manually by removing the locking pin 126 from the cavity 124 as shown in figure 5.

[0029] The flexible member 120 may be made of plastic or any similar polymeric material. The flexible member 120 is also made on a single mould ensuring an easy replacement assembly of the flexible member 120 in case of damages.

[0030] Further, the flexible member 120 is having a living hinge 130 arranged on the first end 120a. The living hinge 130 ensures a biasing movement of the flexible member 120. The living hinge 130 enables a hinge movement of the flexible member 120 and to provide additional resiliently to the flexible member 120. The living hinge 130 and the loop configuration of the flexible member 120 applies a biasing force on the article held in the holder 110 thereby adapting the holder 110 to hold an article of different sizes. Specifically, when an article is kept inside the arrangement 100, the curved configuration of the flexible member 120 facilitates to hold the article. The flexible member 120 may exert a force radially inwards towards the article to hold the article there within. Further, the flexible member 120 and the holder 110 may be made of two different materials.
[0031] Referring again to figures 3, 4 and 5, the flexible member 120 is having a thinner portion 140 configured with reduced thickness forming a weaker portion. The thinner portion 140 is an integral part of the flexible member 120 which provides additional biasing resiliently to the flexible member 120. The thinner portion 140 may ensures similar kind of biasing effect like the living hinge 130.

[0032] Further, a method 200 for manufacturing the arrangement 100 for holding an article in a vehicle interior in accordance with the present invention is provided. The method 200 is described in conjunction with the arrangement 100. The method 200 includes the steps of injection moulding a plastic substrate to form the holder 110 and the flexible member 120. The flexible member 120 is an elongated member having a first end 120a that is connected with the holder 110 and having a second end 120b that is adapted to be locked with the holder 110. The flexible member 120 is having the living hinge 130 at the first end 120a and is lockable with the holder 110 at the second end 120b. The flexible member 120 can be rotated at the living hinge 130 portion and locks with the holder 110 for holding articles inside the holder 110. Further, the flexible member 120 and the holder 110 is made on a single mould. Therefore the present invention has an advantage of providing an arrangement 100 for holding an article, such as the cup or a can inside the vehicle interior. The arrangement 100 is adapted to accommodate cup or can of different sizes and shapes. The arrangement 100 has a simple construction design and has a lesser complex assembly and can be replaced easily. Further, the arrangement 100 is aesthetically pleasing. Also, the arrangement 100 is easy to operate, economical and robust in construction.

[0033] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilise the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.