초록 ▼

A beverage container holder that is adjustable to accommodate various sizes of beverage containers, including containers of different heights and diameters for both tapered-wall containers and straight-wall containers. The beverage container includes a convection air flow generator for supplying con

A beverage container holder that is adjustable to accommodate various sizes of beverage containers, including containers of different heights and diameters for both tapered-wall containers and straight-wall containers. The beverage container includes a convection air flow generator for supplying conditioned air around the beverage containers to control the temperature of the beverage within the beverage container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A thermal conditioning beverage container holder configured to be mounted in a motor vehicle between the front driver and passenger seats, the beverage container holder comprising:a housing configured to define a console for the motor vehicle; the housing having an open chamber sized to receive a

1. A thermal conditioning beverage container holder configured to be mounted in a motor vehicle between the front driver and passenger seats, the beverage container holder comprising:a housing configured to define a console for the motor vehicle; the housing having an open chamber sized to receive at least one beverage container and having an access opening permitting access to the chamber; a convection airflow generator fluidly coupled to the chamber and configured to deliver thermally conditioned air to the chamber; a beverage container support configured to support beverage containers having different vertical heights and different cross-sectional area sizes; and a storage chamber and a storage chamber cover for selectively covering the storage chamber. 2. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the beverage container support is provided with one or more recesses configured to support beverage containers having different cross-sectional area sizes.3. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 2, further comprising a plate having at least one opening for receiving a beverage container and which is movable between a first position, where the plate overlies a lower portion of the chamber and reduces the effective cross-sectional area of the chamber, and a second position, where the plate is withdrawn from overlying relationship to the chamber such that the beverage holder is configured to hold a beverage container of smaller cross-sectional area in the first position than in the second position.4. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the beverage container support is part of the housing and forms the bottom of the chamber, and the housing further comprises a peripheral sidewall extending upwardly from the beverage container support and terminating in an upper lip that defines a chamber opening.5. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 4, wherein the peripheral sidewall further comprises an inlet fluidly coupled to the convection airflow generator through which conditioned air is delivered into the chamber.6. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a peripheral wall defining the sides of the chamber and a support wall spaced from the peripheral wall on which a thermoelectric element is mounted, a blower fan being positioned between the support wall and the peripheral wall and being in fluid communication with the chamber to provide conditioned air to the chamber.7. A thermal conditioning beverage container holder comprising:a housing defining an open chamber sized to receive a beverage container and having an access opening permitting access to the chamber; a convection airflow generator fluidly coupled to the chamber and configured to deliver thermally conditioned air to the chamber; a plate having at least one opening for receiving a beverage container and which is movable between a first position, where the plate overlies the chamber and reduces the effective cross-sectional area of the chamber, and a second position, where the plate is withdrawn from overlying relationship to the chamber such that the beverage holder is configured to hold a smaller circumference beverage container in the first position than in the second position; and a beverage container support located within the chamber and configured to provide bottom support for beverage containers having different bottom circumferences. 8. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder according to claim 7, wherein the plate is removably mounted within the chamber for reducing the size of the beverage container that can be received within the chamber when the plate is mounted within the chamber.9. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder according to claim 7, wherein the plate is spaced above the container support when the plate is in the first position.10. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 7, further comprising a beverage container support comprising first and second recesses located within the chamber, the first recess being configured to receive the bottom of a beverage container having a first maximum cross-sectional area and a second recess being configured to receive the bottom of a beverage container having a second maximum cross-sectional area that is larger than the first maximum cross-sectional area.11. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 7, wherein the housing defines a console for a motor vehicle and is sized to fit between the front seats.12. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 11, further comprising a storage chamber and a storage chamber cover for selectively covering the storage chamber.13. A thermal conditioning beverage container holder comprising:a housing defining a chamber sized to receive at least one beverage container and having an access opening permitting access to the chamber; a convection airflow generator fluidly coupled to the chamber and configured to deliver thermally conditioned air to the chamber; and a beverage container support configured to support beverage containers having different vertical heights and different cross-sectional area sizes, wherein the beverage container support comprises a plate having at least one opening for receiving a beverage container and which is movable between a first position, where the plate overlies a lower portion of the chamber and reduces the effective cross-sectional area of the chamber, and a second position, where the plate is withdrawn from overlying relationship to the lower portion of the chamber such that the beverage holder is configured to hold a beverage container of smaller cross-sectional area in the first position than in the second position. 14. A thermal conditioning beverage container holder comprising:a housing defining a chamber sized to receive at least one beverage container and having an access opening permitting access to the chamber; a convection airflow generator fluidly coupled to the chamber and configured to deliver thermally conditioned air to the chamber; a beverage container support configured to support beverage containers having different vertical heights and different cross-sectional area sizes; and multiple segments movably mounted to the housing for selectively closing the access opening. 15. A thermal conditioning beverage container holder comprising:a housing defining a chamber sized to receive at least one beverage container and having an access opening permitting access to the chamber; a convection airflow generator fluidly coupled to the chamber and configured to deliver thermally conditioned air to the chamber; a beverage container support configured to support beverage containers having different vertical heights and different cross-sectional area sizes; and a storage chamber and a storage chamber cover for selectively covering the storage chamber. 16. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 15, wherein the beverage container support comprises first and second recesses located within the chamber, the first recess being configured to receive the bottom of a beverage container having a first maximum cross-sectional area and a second recess being configured to receive the bottom of a beverage container having a second maximum cross-sectional area that is larger than the first maximum cross-sectional area.17. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 15, wherein the beverage container support comprises a plate having at least one opening for receiving a beverage container and which is movable between a first position, where the plate overlies a lower portion of the chamber and reduces the effective cross-sectional area of the chamber, and a second position, where the plate is withdrawn from overlying relationship to the lower portion of the chamber such that the beverage holder is configured to hold a beverage container of smaller cross-sectional area in the first position than the second position.18. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 16, wherein the beverage container support is part of the housing and forms the bottom of the chamber, and the housing further comprises a peripheral sidewall extending upwardly from the container support and terminating in an upper lip that defines a chamber opening, the peripheral sidewall further comprising an inlet fluidly coupled to the convection airflow generator through which conditioned air is delivered into the chamber.19. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 15, wherein the housing further comprises a peripheral wall defining the sides of the chamber and a support wall spaced from the peripheral wall on which a thermoelectric element is mounted, a blower fan being positioned between the support wall and the peripheral wall and being in fluid communication with the chamber to provide conditioned air to the chamber.20. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 15, further comprising multiple segments movably mounted to the housing for selectively closing the access opening.21. A thermal conditioning beverage container holder comprising:a housing defining a chamber sized to receive at least one beverage container and having an access opening permitting access to the chamber; a convection airflow generator fluidly coupled to the chamber and configured to deliver thermally conditioned air to the chamber; a storage chamber and a storage chamber cover for selectively covering the storage chamber; and at least one resizing element so that the thermal conditioning beverage container holder can support and accommodate beverage containers having different vertical heights and different cross-sectional area sizes. 22. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 21 wherein the resizing element comprises first and second recesses located within the chamber, the first recess being configured to receive the bottom of a beverage container having a first maximum cross-sectional area and a second recess being configured to receive the bottom of a beverage container having a second maximum cross-sectional area that is larger than the first maximum cross-sectional area.23. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 22 wherein the first and second recesses are nested.24. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 21 the resizing element comprises a recess configured to receive the bottom of a beverage container having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the bottom of a different beverage container that otherwise can be supported by the thermal conditioning beverage container holder.25. The thermal conditioning beverage container holder of claim 21 wherein the resizing element comprises a plate having at least one opening for receiving a beverage container and which is movable between a first position, where the plate overlies a lower portion of the chamber and reduces the effective cross-sectional area of the chamber, and a second position, where the plate is withdrawn from overlying relationship to the lower portion of the chamber such that the beverage holder is configured to hold a beverage container of smaller cross-sectional area in the first position than in the second position.