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 low-light conditions, leading to spills and distractions, and existing solutions are not unobtrusive or easily integratable into existing designs.
Innovation Solution
A lighted cup holder with a built-in light source and light-sensitive element that automatically illuminates only in reduced visibility conditions, allowing for easy location without additional effort or aesthetic impact, and can be retrofitted into existing seating arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cup holder is provided in seating arrangements, then beverage support functionality is improved, but location visibility in low-light conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies illumination by incorporating a light source that emits visible light to highlight the cup holder's location. The lighting system changes the visual appearance of the cup holder area, making it visible in low-light conditions without altering the cup holder's structural function. This resolves the contradiction by adding illumination capability while maintaining beverage support functionality.
2Illumination intensity
If continuous illumination is provided to improve visibility, then location visibility is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic illumination control where the light source is activated only when needed (in low-light conditions) and deactivated when ambient light is sufficient. The system adapts its operation based on environmental conditions, providing illumination intermittently rather than continuously. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining visibility when required while minimizing energy consumption during periods when natural light is adequate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a light sensor that detects ambient light levels and provides feedback to control the illumination system. When the sensor detects low light conditions, it triggers the light source to activate; when sufficient light is detected, the system deactivates the illumination. This feedback mechanism ensures the cup holder remains visible when needed while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption during daytime or well-lit conditions.
3Illumination intensity
If a light source is added to improve visibility, then location visibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the light source and light sensor directly into the cup holder structure, merging the illumination function with the existing cup holder assembly. Rather than adding separate, standalone illumination components, the system combines multiple functions (beverage holding, illumination, and light sensing) into a single integrated unit. This resolves the contradiction by providing enhanced visibility while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity through functional integration.
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 the use of cup holders in low-light conditions, reducing spills and distractions, while maintaining a non-distracting and unobtrusive design that can be easily integrated into various seating setups.
Implementation Method 1
a light-producing light source disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle
Implementation Method 2
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.