Lighted Cup Holder With Ambient-Light Control for Dark 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 these holders.
Innovation Solution
A lighted cup holder is integrated into seating arrangements, featuring a light-producing source within the cup holder body that illuminates the receptacle, with a light-sensitive element controlling the light to activate only in reduced visibility conditions, and can include a master and slave configuration for multiple holders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cup holders are integrated into seating arrangements, then ease of access is improved, but visibility in dark conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies light-emitting elements that change the visual appearance of the cup holder by emitting light in different colors or intensities based on operational state, making the cup holder visible in dark conditions while integrated into the seating arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light-emitting elements as an intermediary between the cup holder structure and the user's vision, allowing the cup holder to be visible without adding external lighting fixtures that would complicate the seating design
2Illumination intensity
If light sources are added to illuminate cup holders, then visibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light-emitting elements directly into the cup holder body structure, combining the illumination function with the structural function to avoid separate lighting assemblies and reduce overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the cup holder with multi-functionality by integrating light-emitting elements that serve both illumination and operational indication purposes, allowing a single component to fulfill multiple functions
3Illumination intensity
If continuous lighting is provided in cup holders, then visibility is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or conditional lighting action where light-emitting elements are activated only during darkness or when needed, rather than continuous operation, reducing energy consumption while maintaining visibility when required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates light-sensitive elements that provide feedback about ambient light conditions, automatically controlling the light-emitting elements to turn on when darkness is detected and turn off when sufficient light is present
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 without distracting occupants, reducing spills and maintenance costs, and can be retrofitted into existing seating arrangements.
Implementation Method 1
a light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source for selectively controlling the light source, such that the light source does not produce light when the light-sensitive element detects ambient light of a selected intensity
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.