Lighted Cup Holder Assembly with Concealed Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cup holder assemblies in automotive vehicles have visible light sources, which detract from the aesthetic appeal and do not effectively guide the insertion of beverage containers, as the light is not pooled along the opening edge.
Innovation Solution
A cup holder assembly with a radiused inner edge and a light source mounted along the lip, where the light is directed onto the edge to create a pooled and diffused effect, and a light shield hides the source from view while allowing light to be directed onto the edge, using a reflective material for optimal distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is installed in the cup holder assembly to illuminate the opening, then the illumination function is improved, but the light source becomes visible to passengers which deteriorates the aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
A light shield is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the passengers. The light shield blocks the direct line of sight to the light source while allowing light to pass through or around it, thereby concealing the light source from view while maintaining its illumination function.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source is positioned in a different spatial dimension - specifically, it is mounted along the lip and disposed underneath the top ring, with the light shield creating a hidden cavity. This dimensional arrangement allows the light to be emitted effectively while the source itself remains concealed from the passenger's perspective.
2Illumination intensity
If a light source is installed to illuminate the cup holder opening, then the illumination function is improved, but the light is not pooled along the opening edge which deteriorates the guiding function for beverage insertion
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniform illumination across the entire cup holder opening, the design concentrates light locally along the radiused inner edge of the upper edge portion. This localized lighting highlights the specific area where the beverage container should be inserted, improving the guiding function while maintaining overall illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiused inner edge with its curved geometry serves as an effective light-pooling surface. The curvature of this edge naturally concentrates and pools the light along its length, creating a visually distinct guide path for beverage insertion that follows the curved contour of the cup holder opening.
3Device complexity
If the light source is exposed to view, then the structure is simpler, but the light source visibility deteriorates the aesthetic appeal and user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is nested within a cavity formed by the lip, top ring, and light shield assembly. This nested configuration allows the light source to be hidden within the structure itself, maintaining aesthetic appeal while adding minimal complexity to the overall device. The light shield is disposed annularly along the inner edge of the top ring, creating a nested arrangement that conceals the source.
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 solution provides an aesthetically pleasing illumination of the cup holder opening by pooling light along the edge, guiding beverage insertion while concealing the light source from passengers, enhancing user experience and visual appeal.
Implementation Method 1
The light shield is operable to hide the light source from the view of a user but to allow light from the light source to pass into the space of the storage compartment
Implementation Method 2
The planar surface directs light from the light source onto the radiused inner edge so as to pool the light along the radiused inner edge and provide an aesthetic look. More specifically, the light from the light source is collected along the radiused inner edge and generally diffused such that a concentration of light may be found along the center portion of the radiused inner edge and diffused outwardly therefrom
Implementation Method 3
The light shield may be formed from a reflective material. More specifically, the light shield may include an outer surface formed from a reflective material such as chrome
Data Source
AI summary
A cup holder assembly having a storage compartment adapted to receive a beverage container is provided. The storage compartment includes a recessed portion, and a top ring having a bottom planar surface is mounted onto the recessed portion. The recessed portion further includes a radiused inner edge exposed to the space of the storage compartment. A light source is mounted along the radiused inner edge. Light from the light source is reflected from the planar surface onto the radiused inner edge. A light shield extends beneath the bottom planar surface of the top ring so as to shield the light source from view of the passengers and driver of the vehicle yet allow light to pass from the light source onto the radiused inner edge of the cup holder assembly.