Lighted cup holder for seating arrangements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seating arrangements in vehicles, aircraft, boats, and theaters often lack easily locatable cup holders in dark or low-visibility conditions, leading to spills and distractions, and increased cleaning costs due to the difficulty in finding cup holders during reduced visibility.
Innovation Solution
A lighted cup holder apparatus is integrated into seating arrangements, featuring a light-producing source within the cup holder body that automatically illuminates in low-visibility conditions, using a light-sensitive element to control the lighting, and can include master and slave cup holders for synchronized illumination, ensuring the cup holder is easily accessible without additional effort from occupants.
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 dark conditions. The lighted element changes from invisible to visible depending on ambient light levels, resolving the contradiction between ease of access and visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lighted element as an intermediary between the cup holder structure and the user's vision. This intermediary (light) enables the cup holder to be both integrated into the seating arrangement and visible in dark conditions without adding distracting illumination.
2Illumination intensity
If light sources are added to illuminate cup holders, then visibility is improved, but distraction and spillage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing illumination only at the specific location of the cup holder rather than general illumination. The lighted element is positioned within the cup holder to provide localized visibility without creating broad distraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through light-sensitive elements that cause the light source to activate only when ambient light levels drop below a threshold. This periodic illumination based on environmental conditions provides visibility when needed while avoiding distraction during normal lighting conditions.
3Extent of automation
If light-sensitive elements are used to control illumination, then energy consumption increases, but automatic operation improves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using light-sensitive elements that automatically detect ambient light levels and control the light source without user intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously activating or deactivating illumination based on environmental conditions, improving automatic operation while managing energy consumption through intelligent control.
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
The lighted cup holder significantly reduces spills and distractions by providing inconspicuous and non-distracting indirect lighting, facilitating the use of cup holders in dark conditions, and can be easily incorporated into existing seating arrangements without additional effort, enhancing safety and reducing cleaning costs.
Implementation Method 1
a light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source for selectively controlling the light source so 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.