Vehicle cup holder having adjustable light pipe fingers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle cup holders with illumination face space constraints due to packaging limitations, necessitating a compact and adjustable illumination solution.
Innovation Solution
The integration of light pipes coupled to adjustable fingers within the cup holder, allowing for flexible illumination that adjusts with the size of the beverage container, ensuring consistent lighting within the interior space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light sources are integrated into the cup holder for illumination, then nighttime visibility is improved, but space for light sources and accessories is limited due to packaging constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple light pipes, each coupled to a corresponding finger. This divides the illumination function into distributed segments that can be individually positioned along the finger structure, providing illumination without requiring a centralized light source that would consume valuable space.
Solution Approach 2:
The light pipes are configured to extend along the length of the fingers rather than placing light sources in the horizontal plane of the cup holder base. This vertical dimensionality change allows illumination components to be positioned in three-dimensional space without occupying the limited horizontal packaging space.
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed illumination is used, then installation is simple, but the illumination cannot adapt to different beverage container sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The fingers are designed as adjustable components that can be repositioned along the light pipes. This dynamic configuration allows the illumination system to adapt to different beverage container sizes and shapes while maintaining simple installation of the light pipe structure itself. The fingers can be moved to provide optimal illumination coverage regardless of container dimensions.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple light pipes are used to illuminate the interior space, then visibility is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light pipes serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the fingers, act as light transmission conduits, and define the illumination geometry. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by combining structural and optical roles into single components rather than requiring separate elements for each function.
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
This solution provides enhanced nighttime visibility and easy location of the cup holders and beverage containers by efficiently utilizing space with flexible and adjustable light pipes that adapt to different container sizes, addressing the need for space-saving illumination.
Implementation Method 1
A number of light pipes are each coupled to a corresponding finger for transmitting light into the interior space
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle cup holder is provided and includes a base and a sidewall together defining an interior space for receiving a beverage container. A number of fingers extend through the sidewall for retaining the beverage container. A number of light pipes are each coupled to a corresponding finger for transmitting light into the interior space.