A cup holder in automobiles is not a new concept; in fact we have become so used to them in our cars that imagining a drive without them would leave a lot to desire. But this was not always the case. There was a time when they were considered just another non-essential accessory for mere decorative purposes.
The blame for this late surge in popularity lies primarily with inadequate suspension technology in cars and rather poor conditions of the roads. The bone jarring experience of driving in earlier days did not gel with the idea of a cola sipping long drive.
The creativity of automotive makers was challenged in this direction with the advent of drive-in restaurants and theaters. The earliest and also the crudest cup holders were feeble attempts by restaurant servers to attach a makeshift tray to the side windows of cars. Then a few car makers started providing serrated glove compartments to support the beverage cups. In spite of all this the original problem of enjoying a drink in a moving vehicle was still unsolved. The best such contraptions could do was prevent the sliding of cups. Any attempt to test these holders in moving vehicle resulted in sloshing and spilling of liquid.
When car makers came out with the first in-built cup holders, they still lacked in the convenience department. Most of them were attached to the inside of car doors and frequently an over enthused slamming of car door showered the unsuspecting passenger with a mess he could have done without. But as technology progressed, the cup holders also became more and more useful. Creators have managed to devise ways to handle cups of all sizes. A special modification worth mentioning here is that of using spring ? loaded holders. These manage to securely hold cups of any size.
Of course these appendages have not been welcomed with the same gusto world over. European motorist still do not attach much importance to cup holders which according to them is yet another example of American way of wastefulness. However, with increasing globalization and integration of world markets many cars in Europe do incorporate holders today.
The development of cup holder design has been an ongoing process and there is still scope for improvement. More often than not the supremacy of a design is a subjective matter but we can safely say that creative think tanks of automobile giants would continue to churn surprises for the masses.
About the Author:
Phil Marlowe maintains an active interest in the armrest cup holder topic category. Another closely related topic he is passionate about is drink accessories.
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