Summary of the Invention The holder of the present invention is preferably fabricated from a polymeric material by an injection molding process, and the material chosen will be rugged enough to withstand continued use in the environment of a vehicle of the type referred to above, yet resilient enough to afford the deformation necessary to carry out the purposes of the present invention as described below.

The components of the device include a U-shaped clamp 1 having resiliently deformable legs integrally connected at the base of the U, and defining internally facing abutment leg surfaces for engaging the opposing sides of a strut, or other structure in the vehicle.

A conventional clamping screw 2 is provided at the free ends of these clamp leg portions by means of an opening provided at one end of one of the legs, and a threaded opening provided in the opposing leg. The threaded portion of the opposing leg is preferably defined by a metal insert which is so mounted in the mold during the molding process as to define the threaded opening for receiving the screw 2.

A receptacle 3, suitable for receiving a coffee cup or the like, is also provided of the same material from which the clamp is molded, and defines a depending post which is adapted to be received in the opening at the base of the U- shaped clamp. Mounting of the clamp on a generally vertical strut in the vehicle will result in the receptacle being upwardly open to receive the cup in a convenient fashion.

In further accordance with the present invention, the opening defined by the base of the U-shaped clamp has internal ribs, and the post has a slotted end portion defined by resiliently deformable post segments so as to allow the post to be rotated in the opening in a ratcheting fashion and thereby allow adjustments in the angular relationship between the receptacle and the clamp.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 show the components of the cup holder in exploded relationship.

Figs. 2,3 and 4 illustrate the installation of a device such as that shown in Fig. 1 in a vehicle having a strut, actually two such struts, arranged just forward of the gear shift handle in that vehicle.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In order to install the device of the present invention in the vehicle of Fig. 2, 3 and 4, the U-shaped clamp is provided, without the screw, around the strut, and the screw is then provided in the opening of the clamp leg, and secured to the opposite leg as described above. The next step would be to insert the vertical post or stem of the receptacle into the opening in the clamp.

The receptacle can then be rotated in a ratcheting fashion so as to provide the edges of the post segments in the detent defined by the ribs inside the opening of the U-shaped clamp.

For removal one can squeeze the slotted end portions of the post of the receptacle, and pull up on the receptacle thereby removing the receptacle from the clamp.

Although not shown, other receptacles can alternatively be provided in the clamp so as to lend a degree of versatility to the apparatus of the present invention.

For example, other receptacles can be provided for holding coins, or perhaps a receptacle for holding a cell phone.

In light of the above, it is therefore understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.