Container holder

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A container holder is provided which comprises a housing having a front and a back, the front of the housing defining an opening, and a drawer having a container receiving recess.
The drawer is mounted within the housing opening for movement between a stored position in which the recess is disposed within the housing and a use position in which the recess extends beyond the front of the housing.
An arm is mounted to the drawer for movement between a retracted position proximate the recess and an extended position distal the recess and has a first portion with a complementary shape to the recess to define with the recess a container-receiving area of varying size.
The arm further has a detent portion and a detent mechanism is mounted to the drawer and is engageable with the detent portion of the arm for selectively retaining the arm in a number of adjustable positions between the retracted and the extended positions.
In one aspect, the invention relates to an improved container holder wherein the detent mechanism comprises a detent leg pivotally mounted to the drawer.
One of the detent leg and the detent portion of the arm has a series of indentations and the other of the detent leg and the detent portion of the arm has a detent end which fits within each of the indentations.
The second portion of the arm abuts the detent leg and a spring biases the detent leg toward the second portion of the arm to selectively retain the detent end within one of the indentations.
The arm can thereby be moved bi-directionally toward one of the extended and retracted positions and releasably retain the second portion of the arm in any one of the indentations.
In another aspect, the invention relates to an improved container holder wherein the detent mechanism has a release leg adapted to contact the housing as the drawer is moved from the extended position to the retracted position and to disengage the detent mechanism from the second portion of the arm.
In an additional aspect, the invention relates to an improved container holder having a bail pivotally mounted to the drawer at a bail pivot axis rearward of the drawer recess for movement of the bail between a retracted position within the drawer and depending position wherein a forward portion of the bail extends beneath the drawer and is adapted to support a container placed in the recess