A deployable cup-holder 100 has a collapsible side structure 110 extending between a top 112 and bottom 114, and around a perimeter of, the cup-holder. In a deployed configuration the top and bottom are spaced apart in an axial direction so the cup-holder may hold a liquid containing receptacle in the formed recess. A restoring means 120, such as one or more magnetic portions 122, is configured to urge the side structure to collapse into a collapsed configuration with the top and bottom adjacent to each other. The side structure may be formed from a number of arcuate or spiral portions 130,132, such as rings extending about the perimeter. Preferably neighbouring rings are attached by a number of discrete couplings (fig.2,134), angularly offset from one another between successive pairs, the rings may flex so the couplings are spaced apart in the axial direction when deployed. Successive rings may reduce in size such that the rings form a flat surface when in the collapsed configuration, which may be flush with a top side of a table in which the cup holder is situated. The restoring means may be selectively activated by using an electromagnet or a shape-memory material.
A deployable cup holder
2019-03-06
Patent
Electronic Resource
English