X250 cup holder PATENT (1 Viewer)

[Techno]

That is actually the ashtray holder
Broken Link Removed

 

[Flyingscotsman2]

That is actually the ashtray holder
Broken Link Removed

A smokie drink ...

 

[DBK]

Well that got me looking in the manual! Bit of a first for me.

It shows a picture of the ashtray and says it fits "in the cup/can holder" It also shows the ashtray as a thing with a metal bit for stubbing your fag on - but I don't have one of those. What I have is a plastic thing which fits into a larger cup moulded into the dashboard. This is quite a shallow depression and wouldn't hold a cup very well unless it was a very good fit. The thing I have fits snuggly into this cup but it isn't shown in the manual. Whatever it is it works adequately as a cup/bottle holder.

Edit: Found it, they are available on Ebay, but mine came with the vehicle: Broken Link Removed

If you look at the diagram image what I have is 15, the ashtray is 18. Not being a smoker I don't miss the lack of an ashtray but I suppose this could be an issue with some and a separate cup holder would be useful.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Techno]

The unused ashtray is used for important bitsnbobs in ours.Item 15 is the right hand drive version only and I could not reach it comfortably but a good find that I've not encountered

 

[DBK]

I'm left handed so I don't find it a problem for bottled water but I'm sure my wife would flinch if I was replacing a cup of hot coffee!

 

[Abacist]

Have you looked into the cost of an EU wide Patent?

I doubt that it would be worthwhile!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Techno]

No no idea or how to produce

 

[Techno]

Oh Please! it can take 3 to 4 yrs for a patent to be granted

 

[TheBig1]

No no idea or how to produce

simple enough Andy. make a good quality prototype, then take it to an injection moulding specialist. they will use the prototype to make a mould for production.

similarly vacuum forming would work but the plastic tends to be thinner

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DP+JAY]

No. 18 is our euro/token holder.

 

[mikebeaches]

We discovered by accident that Vittel 500ml mineral water bottles (that we had in our cabin on Brittany Ferries ) is a perfect fit in the X250 cab. It is gripped tightly enough so as not to fall out, but not too tightly that it's difficult to pick up.

The 330ml bottles (illustrated in link below) have the same circumference and profile, but are shorter and should fit in the same way.

http://www.postofficeshop.co.uk/water-supplies/vittel/still-water-33cl-pet-17217-pack-of-24/

Mike

 

[jockaneezer]

simple enough Andy. make a good quality prototype, then take it to an injection moulding specialist. they will use the prototype to make a mould for production.

Friend of mine has just had a simple injection mould made in China to produce bicycle handlebar grips, cost almost £5000, couldn't afford to get it done in the UK although the moulding is being done here.
Andy, we tried the 'taxi' cup holder in our Renault, couldn't find a vertical face to fasten it to, make yours adjustable please

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[joncris]

Our van has cup holders galore in the centre consol, the doors and the top left & right corners of the dash

 

[bubble63]

I've not had that email from you yet? Fiat stuff

Oops

 

[cranky]

my cup holder even passes me the bottle as and when required.
Unless she falls asleep

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[jezport]

The problem with patenting is that you cant afford to enforce any breaches. Even if the breach is in the UK you have to spend fortunes on specialist solicitors and by the time you get anywhere with pursuing a company they change names. If the product is a good seller and is a universal fit then you will be copied by a Chinese company which will be impossible to pursue. My wife worked for a solicitors department that dealt with intellectual rights and patents etc. You need to get in quick sell as many as you can before you get copied.

BTW I had a prototype made up for a cup holder that slotted into the cab window some time back but never had time to do anything with it. My idea was based around fitting it to the bottom of the window so that it would be universal and would be unaffected by manufacturers changing the cab layout.

 

[Techno]

Yes I'm in the same mind over the value of a patent.

 

[jezport]

A guaranteed way to get copied almost instantly is to have it made for you in China. I was chatting to a member on here at a rally and he had a number of inventions. He once made the mistake of having his product made in China, before he got his order other companies in China were selling them!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Techno]

Thank you for your input that addresses the title

 

[cranky]

The problem with patenting is that you cant afford to enforce any breaches. Even if the breach is in the UK you have to spend fortunes on specialist solicitors and by the time you get anywhere with pursuing a company they change names. If the product is a good seller and is a universal fit then you will be copied by a Chinese company which will be impossible to pursue. My wife worked for a solicitors department that dealt with intellectual rights and patents etc. You need to get in quick sell as many as you can before you get copied.

BTW I had a prototype made up for a cup holder that slotted into the cab window some time back but never had time to do anything with it. My idea was based around fitting it to the bottom of the window so that it would be universal and would be unaffected by manufacturers changing the cab layout.

Thats why I didnt patent mine, I didnt want any chinese copies running around. The original is more than enough!