Claims:We Claim:
1. An article holding assembly (100) for a vehicle, the assembly (100) comprising:
a trim panel (110) with an opening (1a),
a carrier part (120),
a pivoting assembly (150) configured to move the carrier part (120) and/or the trim panel (110) between a retracted position (100a) and at least in one deployed position (100b) such that:
when in the retracted position (100a) the carrier part (120) is arranged at least partly within the opening (1a) of the trim panel (110), and when in the deployed position (100b) the carrier part (120) moved away from the opening (1a) of the trim panel (110) in a vertical direction perpendicular to the trim panel (110) being capable of storing and holding an article (200a) therein.

2. The article holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoting assembly (150) comprises a first pivoting link (130) and a second pivoting link (140) pivotally connected at diagonal ends of the trim panel (110), wherein the first pivoting link (130) and the second pivoting link (140) comprises a first track (135) and a second track (145) configured in a longitudinal direction of the first pivoting link (130) and the second pivoting link (140) respectively.
3. The article holding assembly (100) as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the carrier part (120) is slidably arranged in / on the first track (135) and the second track (145) of the first pivoting link (130) and the second pivoting link (140) of the pivoting assembly (150), wherein the carrier part (120) comprises a first connecting member (132) and a second connecting member (142) with a first fixed end arranged on a bottom portion or on an edge portion of the carrier part (120) and a second slidable end slidably arranged in / on the first track (135) and the second track (145) of the first pivoting link (130) and the second pivoting link (140) of the pivoting assembly (150) respectively.
4. The article holding assembly (100) as claimed in claims 1 or 2 or 3, wherein when the article (200a) is placed on the carrier part (120), the carrier part (120) slides along the first and second tracks (135, 145) of the respective first and second pivoting links (130, 140) and simultaneously the first and second pivoting links (130, 140) pivots to configure the deployed position (100b).
5. The article holding assembly (100) as claimed in claims 1 or 2 or 3, wherein upon actuating the carrier part (120) to slides along the tracks (135, 145) or to pivot the first and/or second pivoting link(s) (130, 140) by an actuator such as electric motor the carrier part (120) moves to configure the deployed position (100b).
6. The article holding assembly (100) as claimed in claims 2 or 4 or 5, wherein the first and second pivoting links (130, 140) are connected to the trim panel (110) with a biasing member (160) to restore the carrier part (120) or the trim part (110) from the deployed position (100b) to the retracted position (100a) after removing the article (200a) from the carrier part (120) or after stopping the actuator.
7. The article holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trim panel (110) is arranged over or on a housing (200) defining a storage space, being movable to at least partially open and close the housing (200).
8. The article holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein a first and a second trim panels (110a, 110b) are arranged over / on the housing (200), wherein the first trim panel (110a) is slidable over or below the second trim panel (110b) and vice versa within the housing (200), wherein a first carrier part (120a) is configured within the first trim panel (110a) and a second carrier part (120b) is configured within the second trim panel (110b), the first carrier part (120a) and the second carrier part (120b) is adapted to move between a retracted position (100a) and a deployed position (100b).
9. The article holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first trim panel (110a) is slidable over or below the second trim panel (110b) and vice versa.
10. The article holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape and size of the carrier part (120) is substantially same as of the opening (1a) of the trim panel (110).
11. The article holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening (1a) and the carrier part (120) is a circular shape opening and structure of substantially same diameter or the carrier part (120) has a smaller diameter than the opening (1a) such that in the retracted position (100b) the carrier part (120) is flush fitted into the opening (1a) of the trim panel (110).
12. The article holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the article holding assembly (100) is slidably arranged in or on an interior panel (500) of the vehicle.
, Description:Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an article holding assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to an article holding assembly for a vehicle interior.
Background of the invention:
[0002] Due to advancements in automotive sector in recent years, the importance of vehicle interior technology is growing immensely to cater with the ergonomic, safety and aesthetic considerations. The interior configuration of the vehicle is needed to be designed in such a way that both the driver and occupants have a smooth and satisfactory experience during travelling by the vehicle and operating the systems configured within the vehicle. Along with driving, the occupants need to carry external belongings such as bags, mobiles, drinking cans etc. for any purpose. Heavy belongings such as bags, cartons etc. have special arrangements such as trunks to keep them safe. Other necessary light belongings such as mobile phones, pagers, chargers, drinking cans, bottles etc. have to be carried along with the occupants in the vehicle to cope up with emergency needs. In present systems, various storing compartments such as cup holders, mobile holders etc. are configured within the vehicle interior for keeping the necessary belongings. But such compartments or containers take up quite a lot design volume and has cumbersome design as compared to usable volume for holding cups, cans, bottles.
[0003] Hence, there is a requirement for an article holding assembly for a vehicle that can overcome one or more drawbacks of the existing assemblies.
Objects of the invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an article holding assembly for a vehicle.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide an article holding assembly for a vehicle, which provides easy placement of necessary articles within the vehicle.
[0006] Further object of the present invention is to provide an article holding assembly for a vehicle, which secures the necessary articles at a definite place and prevents dislocation due to sudden vehicle manoeuvring.
[0007] Further object of the present invention is to provide an article holding assembly for a vehicle, which is compact and simple to use.
[0008] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an article holding assembly for a vehicle, which is simple and cost-effective.

Summary of the invention

[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided an article holding assembly for a vehicle. The article holding assembly may include a trim panel and a carrier part. The trim panel may have an opening thereon sufficiently enough to hold a beverage cup or can or the like articles. The carrier part is a holding plate arranged at least partly within the opening of the trim panel. The carrier has a flat surface to hold an article thereon. In an embodiment, the shape and size of the carrier part is substantially same as of the opening of the trim panel.
[0010] Further, the article holding assembly includes a pivoting assembly configured to move the carrier part (120) and/or the trim panel (110) between a retracted position and at least in one deployed position. The pivoting assembly configured to move the carrier part (120) and/or the trim panel (110) in a vertical direction perpendicular to trim panel (110) and/or carrier part (120) between a retracted position and at least in one deployed position. More particularly, such that when in the retracted position the carrier part is arranged at least partly within the opening of the trim panel, and when in the deployed position the carrier part moved away from the opening of the trim panel in a vertical direction perpendicular to the trim panel being capable of storing and holding an article therein. The pivoting assembly may be arranged on a bottom portion of the trim panel. The pivoting assembly may include a first pivoting link and a second pivoting link connecting the trim panel and the carrier part. In the present embodiment, the first pivoting link and the second pivoting link is pivotally connected at diagonal ends to the trim panel. The pivoting assembly is configured to move the carrier part and/or the trim panel between a retracted position and at least in one deployed position. Specifically in an embodiment, when an article is kept on the carrier part of the assembly, the carrier part can move away from the opening of the trim panel in a vertical direction perpendicular to the trim panel to configure the deployed position for storing and holding an article therein.
[0011] When in the retracted position, the carrier part is arranged at least partly within the opening of the trim panel, and when in the deployed position the carrier part is moved away from the opening of the trim panel. When in the deployed position the carrier part moved away from the opening of the trim panel in a vertical direction perpendicular to the trim panel being capable of storing and holding an article therein.
[0012] Further in an embodiment, the first pivoting link and the second pivoting link may include a first track and a second track. The first track and the second track are configured in a longitudinal direction of the first pivoting link and the second pivoting link respectively. The carrier part is slidably arranged in / on the first track and the second track of the first pivoting link and the second pivoting link of the pivoting assembly.
[0013] In an embodiment, the carrier part may include a first connecting member and a second connecting member with a first fixed end arranged on a bottom portion or on an edge portion of the carrier part and a second slidable end slidably arranged in / on the first track and the second track of the first pivoting link and second pivoting link of the pivoting assembly respectively.
[0014] When the article is placed on the carrier part, the carrier part may slide along the first and second tracks of the respective first and second pivoting links and simultaneously the first and second pivoting links pivots to configure the deployed position. In an embodiment, the movement of the carrier part can be controlled by an actuator such as an electric motor. Upon actuating the carrier part to slides along the tracks or to pivot the first and/or second pivoting link(s) by the actuator such as electric motor, the carrier part moves to configure the deployed position.
[0015] Further in an embodiment, the first and the second pivoting links are connected to the trim panel with a biasing member. The biasing member can be a hinge spring and the like to restore the carrier part or the trim part from the deployed position to the retracted position after removing the article from the carrier part or after stopping the actuator.

[0016] In an embodiment, the opening and the carrier part may have a circular shape opening and structure of substantially same diameter or the carrier part has a smaller diameter than the opening such that in the retracted position the carrier part is flush fitted into the opening of the trim panel. More specifically, the carrier part can move in a vertical direction perpendicular to the trim panel to configure the deployed position and the retracted position. In another embodiment, the trim part can move in a vertical direction perpendicular to the carrier part to configure the deployed position and the retracted position of the holding assembly.
[0017] In an embodiment, the trim panel is arranged over or on a housing defining a storage space. In such embodiment, the trim panel is movable to at least partially open and close the housing.
[0018] In another embodiment, a first and a second trim panels are arranged over / on the housing defining a storage space. In such embodiment, the first trim panel is slidable over or below the second trim panel and vice versa within the housing. Wherein a first carrier is configured within the first trim panel and a second carrier is configured within the second trim panel. The first carrier and the second carrier are adapted to move between a retracted position and a deployed position.
[0019] Further in an embodiment, the first trim panel is slidable over or below the second trim panel and vice versa.

Brief Description of drawings

[0020] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of an article holding assembly for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention;
[0021] Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of a carrier part and a trim panel of the article holding assembly in a retracted position;
[0022] Figure 3 illustrates a top view of figure 2;
[0023] Figure 4a and 4b illustrates a front view and a right side view of figure 2;
[0024] Figure 5 illustrates an isometric view, viewed from a bottom side of the article holding assembly in accordance with the present invention;
[0025] Figure 6 illustrates another view of the article holding assembly in two different deployed positions;
[0026] Figures 7a, 7b and 7c illustrates different configuration of the article holding assembly slidably arranged in / on an interior trim panel of the vehicle; and
[0027] Figures 8a, and 8b illustrates another embodiment showing the configuration of article holding assembly arranged on or over a housing of the interior panel.
Detailed description of the invention

[0028] 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.
[0029] 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 “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
[0030] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.
[0031] The present invention relates to an article holding assembly for a vehicle especially holding assemblies like cup holder(s), can, bottle etc. The cup holders usually used in vehicles take up quite a lot design volume as compared to usable volume for holding cups/cans/bottles etc. There should be an option to use the cup holder storage for generalized storage solutions or mobile charging decks when not in use. Hence, the present invention is provided to overcome the difficulties of the prior art solutions.
[0032] Referring now to figure 1, an article holding assembly (100) for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The article holding assembly (100) can be arranged in / on an interior trim panel of the vehicle such as in / on an instrument panel or an armrest or a central console of the vehicle interior. The article holding assembly (100) is used for storing articles (200a) such as beverage cans, cups and other similar articles. The article holding assembly (100) can also hold and storage different shape articles (200a) such as mobile phone(s), tablet(s) and other similar articles.
[0033] The article holding assembly (100) includes a trim panel (110) and a carrier part (120). The trim panel (110) is a flat sheet like member of an interior trim panel of the vehicle such as at least a portion of a central console or of an instrument panel or of a door trim panel and the like. The trim panel (110) is having an opening thereon sufficiently enough to hold different shaped articles such as beverage cup or can or mobile phone, tablet or the like articles.
[0034] Further referring to figure 2 the carrier part (120) is a holding plate arranged at least partly within the opening of the trim panel (110). The carrier part (120) has a flat surface to hold the article thereon. In the present embodiment, the shape and size of the carrier part (120) is substantially same as of the opening (1a) of the trim panel (110). In an alternate embodiment, the carrier part (120) in a smaller diameter than the opening (1a) to flush fit the carrier part (120) within the opening (1a) of the trim panel (110).
[0035] Referring to figures 1 and 6, a pivoting assembly (150) is arranged on a bottom portion of the trim panel (110). The pivoting assembly (150) includes a first pivoting link (130) and a second pivoting link (140) pivotally connected to the carrier part (120). The pivoting links (130, 140) are elongated members extending lengthwise substantially parallel to the trim panel (110) when viewed in the retracted position of the article holding assembly (100) as shown in figure 2.
[0036] In the present embodiment, the first pivoting link (130) and the second pivoting link (140) is pivotally connected at diagonal ends of the trim panel (110). The first pivoting link (130) and the second pivoting link (140) is rotatable around a first pivoting axis (150a) and a second pivoting axis (150b) respectively as shown in figures 1, 2 and 3. The pivoting assembly (150) is configured to move the carrier part (120) and/or the trim panel (110) between a retracted position (100a) and at least in one deployed position (100b). As shown in fig 6, a dotted line represents a first deployed position (100b) and the solid line represents a second deployed position (100b). It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to move the carrier part (120) and/or the trim panel (110) between more than two deployed positions. Specifically in the present embodiment, when an article (200a) is kept within the carrier part (120) of the assembly (100), the carrier part (120) is moved to the deployed position (100b) being capable of storing and holding the article (200a) therein.
[0037] When in the retracted position as shown in figures 2, 4a and 4b, the carrier part (120) is arranged at least partly within the opening (1a) of the trim panel (110), and when in the deployed position (100b) the carrier part (120) is moved away from the opening (1a) of the trim panel (110). In the present embodiment, when in the deployed position (100b) the carrier part (120) is moved away from the opening (1a) of the trim panel (110) in a vertical direction perpendicular to the trim panel (110) being capable of storing and holding an article (200a) therein.
[0038] Further in the present embodiment, the first pivoting link (130) and the second pivoting link (140) include a first track (135) and a second track (145) as shown in figure 5. The first track (135) and the second track (145) are configured in a longitudinal direction of the first pivoting link (130) and the second pivoting link (140) respectively. The first track (135) and the second track (145) are an elongated slot which extends in longitudinal direction of the first pivoting link (130) and the second pivoting link (140). Specifically, the tracks (135, 145) are extending in between the distal ends of the first pivoting link (130) and the second pivoting link (140) as shown in figure 2 allowing maximum length of deployment of the article holding assembly (100). In an embodiment, the tracks (135, 145) include detents (not shown) to configure one or more deployed position (100b).
[0039] In the present embodiment, the carrier part (120) is slidably arranged in / on the first track (135) and the second track (145) of the first pivoting link (130) and the second pivoting link (140) of the pivoting assembly (150). Specifically, a portion of the carrier part (120) is slidable within the first track (135) and the second track (145). In the present embodiment, the carrier part (120) includes a first connecting member (132) and a second connecting member (142) with a first fixed end arranged on a bottom portion or on an edge portion of the carrier part (120) and a second slidable end slidably arranged in / on the first track (135) and the second track (145) of the first pivoting link (130) and second pivoting link (140) of the pivoting assembly (150) respectively. The connecting members (132, 142) are a small shaft like member which can slide along the elongated slot of the tracks (135, 145) relative to the movement of the carrier part (120). In the present embodiment, the fixed end of the connecting members (132, 142) is connected to a respective mounting portion (131, 141) arranged on a bottom portion of the carrier part (120). In an alternate embodiment (not shown) the tracks (135, 145) can be an elongated groove arranged on the pivoting links (130, 140) to engage the connecting members (132, 142) with the tracks (135, 145) to slide the carrier part (120) in a vertical direction perpendicular to the trim panel (110). In an embodiment, the connecting members (132, 142) may have a locking feature to prevent the disengagement of the connecting members (132, 142) from the respective tracks (135, 145).
[0040] In the present embodiment, when the article (200a) is placed on the carrier part (120) as shown in figure 1, the carrier part (120) slides along the first and second tracks (135, 145) of the respective first and second pivoting links (130, 140) and simultaneously the first and second pivoting links (130, 140) pivots to configure the deployed position (100b). In the present embodiment, the weight of the article (200a) allows the carrier part (120) to slide along the first and the second track (135, 145) to configure the deployed position (100b). In an alternate embodiment, the movement of the carrier part (120) or trim panel (110) can be controlled by an actuator such as an electric motor. For example, the electric motor is connected to actuate (wired or wirelessly) the carrier part such that upon actuating the electric motor, the connecting member(s) (132, 142) of the carrier part (120) slides along the tracks (135, 145) to configure the at least one deployed position (100b). In another example, the electric motor is connected to the trim panel (wired or wirelessly) such that upon actuating the electric motor, the first and/or second pivoting link(s) (130, 140) lifts the trim panel (110) upwardly to configure the at least one deployed position (100b). In yet another example, the electric motor is connected to both the carrier part and the trim panel (wired or wirelessly) such that upon actuating the electric motor, the connecting member(s) slides on the tracks and simultaneous the pivoting links pivot to configure the at least one deployed position. To assist the article holding assembly to move in retracted and deployed positions any sensors such as proximity sensor or weight sensor to sense the presence of the article thereby actuating the movement of the connecting member(s) (132, 142) of the carrier part (120) and/or the pivoting assembly (150) can be used.
[0041] Further in the present embodiment, the first and second pivoting links (130, 140) are connected to the trim panel (110) with a biasing member (160). Specifically, the pivoting links (130, 140) are connected to the trim panel (110) via an attaching element (161) which has a pivoting member (161a) extending from the attaching element (161) to pivotally connect with the pivoting links (130, 140). The pivoting member (161a) may have a locking feature to prevent the disengagement of the pivotal links (130, 140) from the pivoting member (161). In the present embodiment, one end of the pivoting member (161a) engages with one end of the pivoting links (130, 140) to facilitate the pivotal movement of the pivoting links (130, 140). The biasing member (160) is arranged around the pivoting member (161a), specifically in between the attaching element (161) and the pivotal links (130, 140) as shown in the figure 5. The biasing member (160) can be a hinge spring and the like to restore the carrier part (120) or the trim part (110) from the deployed position (100b) to the retracted position (100a) after removing the article (200a) from the carrier part (120) or after stopping the actuator.
[0042] In an embodiment, the opening (1a) and the carrier part (120) is a circular shape opening and structure of substantially same diameter or the carrier part (120) has a smaller diameter than the opening (1a) such that in the retracted position (100b) the carrier part (120) is flush fitted into the opening (1a) of the trim panel (110). More specifically, the carrier part (120) moves between a axial axis perpendicular to the trim panel (110) along the direction of the movement of the pivoting assembly (150) to configure the deployed position (100b) and the retracted position (100a).
[0043] In an embodiment as shown in figure 7a, 7b and 7c, the assembly is slidably arranged on an interior panel (500) of the vehicle. In such embodiment, the assembly can slide in and out from the interior panel (500) either by pushing an actuator (not shown) or by manual operation. In such embodiment when the assembly (100) slide out from the interior panel (500), the articles can be held within the carrier part (120) of the assembly (100). The interior panel (500) can be an instrument panel or door trim panel or central console of the vehicle.
[0044] In another embodiment, the trim panel (110) is arranged over or on a housing (200) defining a storage space. In such embodiment, the trim panel (110) is movable to at least partially open and close the housing (200). For example, the trim panel (110) can be configured as a lid of a storage box configured on a central console or the instrument panel of the vehicle.
[0045] In another embodiment as shown in figures 8a, 8b and 8c, a first and a second trim panels (110a, 110b) are arranged over / on the housing (200) defining a storage space. In such embodiment, the first and the second trim panel (110a, 110b) is arranged on a same plane adjacent to each other. Further, the first trim panel (110a) is slidable over or below the second trim panel (110b) and vice versa within the housing (200), wherein a first carrier part (120a) is configured within the first trim panel (110a) and a second carrier part (120b) is configured within the second trim panel (110b). The first carrier part (120a) and the second carrier part (120b) are adapted to move between a retracted position (100a) and a deployed position (100b).
[0046] Therefore, the present invention has an advantage of providing an article holding assembly (100) for a vehicle. The assembly (100) provides easy placement of necessary articles within the vehicle. The assembly (100) also secures the necessary articles at a definite place and prevents dislocation due to sudden vehicle manoeuvring. Further, the assembly (100) is compact and simple to use. Also, the assembly (100) is simple and cost-effective.
[0047] 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 to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize 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.