A device for holding a container includes a base configured to support the container, a retaining mechanism configured to retain the container relative to the base, and an actuator mechanism coupled to the retaining mechanism. The retaining mechanism includes an iris moveable between an insertion position and a retaining position. A central opening formed by the iris in the insertion position has an insertion diameter greater than a retaining diameter of the central opening formed by the iris in the retaining position. The iris includes a plurality of arms arranged in a first level and a second level. User rotation of the actuator mechanism in a first direction causes the arms of the iris to move to the retaining position, and in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the arms of the iris to move away from the retaining position towards the insertion position.

Embodiments include object restraint systems and methods of their operation. The system is contained in a vehicle with a passenger compartment, and includes sensor and processing subsystems, a vessel, a restraint mechanism, and an actuator. The sensor subsystem produces a sensor signal indicating a magnitude of a sensed condition, and the processing subsystem asserts an actuator signal when the sensor signal indicates that a triggering condition has occurred. The vessel is configured to hold one or more inanimate objects. For example, the vessel may include a cupholder, a lidded or open compartment, a cargo area, or another storage space that is distinct from the passenger compartment. The actuator receives the actuator signal and activates the restraint mechanism in response to assertion of the actuator signal. The restraint mechanism, when activated, is configured to retain the object(s) within the vessel and to restrict the object(s) from entering the passenger compartment.

An apparatus for securing one or more items of stemware includes a base plate, one or more posts, a retainer, and one or more feet. The feet and base plate cooperatively secure the base portion of the item of stemware, and the retainer includes arms defining a stem receiving space that secures the stem of the item of stemware. The feet are coupled to the arms. The arms are flexible so as to accommodate different sizes of stems and bases in stemware with a single rack.

A container holder configured to hold a container includes a holder body including a container receiver that contains the container and has an opening and a bottom surface, and a container-holding mechanism that stably holds the container contained in the container receiver. The container-holding mechanism includes a swing member that is swingable around a first support shaft relative to the holder body, a turning member that is turnable around a second support shaft relative to the swing member, and a first biasing member that biases the swing member. In a process of putting or taking the container in or out of the container receiver, an outer surface of the container abuts on a part of an outer surface of the swing member or the turning member, and the swing member swings around the first support shaft or the turning member turns around the second support shaft.

There is provided a cup holder including a holder body, an opening formed in a side wall of the holder body, a support supported on the side wall so as to advance into or retreat from a storage space through the opening, and a leaf spring disposed between the support and the side wall and biasing the support in a direction in which the support advances into the storage space. The support has a turning shaft serving as a center of swinging of the support and a swinging portion swinging around the turning shaft by turning of the turning shaft. On a peripheral edge of the opening formed in the side wall, a nipped portion protrudes to the outside of the side wall and swingably holds the support by being nipped between the turning shaft and the swinging portion while the support advances or retreats.

A cup holder includes a holder main body having a retaining portion, the retaining portion being configured to receive and hold a beverage container on a bottom wall. The retaining portion includes an upper opening for receiving the beverage container, the bottom wall for supporting a bottom of the beverage container, and a side wall formed between the upper opening and the bottom wall, and has a cylindrical shape. An inner diameter at the upper opening is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the bottom wall.

The disclosure relates to a beverage holder device for a vehicle, which is adjustable between a stowed position and at least one position of use, with a storage element providing a storage surface for the beverage container, which, in the position of use, provides a bottom surface of a receptacle for the beverage receptacle, a beverage holder which, in the position of use, is set up to provide a wall which delimits the periphery of the receptacle and, in the stowed position, terminates flush with the storage surface or below the storage surface, wherein the cup holder forms a helical engagement with a further member, and a drive means comprising a drive member adapted to initiate a rotational movement of the cup holder relative to the further member, whereby the cup holder can be adjusted in height relative to the storage member for adjusting the cup holder means between the stowed position and the use position.

A beverage holder (1) for a motor vehicle has a receptacle (2) with a side wall (5) extending from a bottom wall (3) to an open top (4) that is farther upward. At least one elastic compensation element (7) is provided for holding differently sized drinking vessels (6). The side wall (5) has at least one opening (8), and an elastic covering (10) penetrates the opening (8) due to its biasing to form the elastic compensation element (7).

A hinge mechanism includes a resin base member, and a support rotatably and pivotally mounted to the base member. The base member is formed by blow molding so as to be hollowed. The base member integrally includes a hinge member for rotatably and pivotally mounting the support to the base member. The hinge member is set in a molding die for clamping at the time of the blow molding of the base member, so as to be molded integrally with the base member.

A method of controlling an ambient light feature of a cup holder assembly having one or more cup holders includes providing a light source having a light output of varying luminous intensity, sensing an amount of light reflected from an object received in one of the cup holders using a light sensor, and controlling the luminous intensity of the light output based on the amount of light reflected and the distance between the object and a sidewall of the cup holder assembly. In this method, a change in the amount of light reflected from an object received in one of the cup holders correlates to a change in the luminous intensity provided by the light source, and a change in the distance between the object received the cup holder and the sidewall of the cup holders correlates to a change in the luminous intensity provided by the light source.