Auto-Illuminated Cup Holder Layout for Low-Visibility Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seating arrangements in vehicles, aircraft, boats, and theaters often face difficulties in locating cup holders in dark or low-visibility conditions, leading to spills, distractions, and increased cleaning costs due to the inability to easily access beverages and food items.
Innovation Solution
A lighted cup holder is integrated into the seating arrangement, featuring a light-producing source within the cup receptacle that automatically illuminates during reduced visibility, using a light-sensitive element to control the lighting and optionally connecting multiple cup holders for synchronized illumination, maintaining a non-distracting and inconspicuous design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cup holders are integrated into seating arrangements, then ease of access to beverages is improved, but visibility and location of cup holders in dark conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies illumination to change the visual state of the cup holder from dark/invisible to brightly visible. The light source illuminates the cup holder receptacle, causing it to emit light and become easily detectable in dark conditions, directly resolving the visibility contradiction while maintaining integration into the seating arrangement.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If lighting is added to cup holders, then visibility in dark conditions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a light-sensitive element that automatically detects ambient light levels and controls illumination without user intervention. When darkness is detected, the system automatically activates the light source; when light is detected, it automatically turns off. This self-regulating mechanism improves visibility while minimizing the need for complex control systems or user interaction.
3Ease of operation
If automatic light control is implemented, then ease of use is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light-sensitive element serves as an automatic sensor that detects ambient light conditions and directly controls the illumination state without requiring user input. The system autonomously transitions between on and off states based on environmental light levels, providing ease of use while maintaining relatively simple system architecture through direct sensor-actuator coupling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates easy location and use of cup holders in dark conditions, reducing spills and distractions, while being easily adaptable to existing seating arrangements without additional effort, enhancing safety and cleanliness.
Implementation Method 1
using a light-sensitive element to control the lighting
Implementation Method 2
featuring a light-producing source within the cup receptacle that automatically illuminates
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus include attaching a lighted cup holder to a seating arrangement. The lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, the light-producing source being disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle. A light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source selectively controls production of light by the light source in such a manner that illumination of the cup holder is provided only under conditions where visibility is reduced to the point that it becomes difficult to locate the cup holder. The light-sensitive element is mounted on a master lighted cup holder and controls illumination of the master lighted cup holder and one or more slave lighted cup holders operatively connected to the master lighted cup holder.