Illuminated cupholder

• US 20060097121A1
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharon Kay Fugate
• Original Assignee: Sharon Kay Fugate
• Inventors: Fugate, Sharon Kay
• Application Number:
  US11/243,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20060097121A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0309 Illuminated

Abstract

An illuminated cupholder is disclosed which permits improved viewing of a cupholder when ambient lighting is limited. The disclosed invention may be embodied in many forms, including the use of a glow-in-the-dark disc placed at the bottom of a cupholder, a replacement cupholder sleeve comprising a glow-in-the-dark material, and/or a replacement cupholder detent assembly comprising glow-in-the-dark material, preferably of plastic composition. The present invention anticipates the use of these teachings in cars, trucks, boats, recreational vehicles, and furniture (including but not limited to chairs and the like).

Claims

1. An illuminated cupholder system comprising:

(a) a circular disc comprising glow-in-the-dark material on a first side and an adhesive backing on a second side;

wherein

said circular disc conforms to the diameter of a cupholder receptacle.

2. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 1 wherein said disc is approximately 2.5 inches in diameter.

3. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 1 wherein said glow-in-the-dark material comprises LUNAplast.

4. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 1 wherein said glow-in-the-dark material comprises a zinc sulfide photoluminescent material.

5. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 1 wherein said cupholder system resides in an automobile.

6. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 1 wherein said cupholder system resides in a truck.

7. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 1 wherein said cupholder system resides in a boat.

8. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 1 wherein said cupholder system resides in a recreational vehicle.

9. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 1 wherein said cupholder system resides in a chair.

10. An illuminated cupholder system comprising:

(a) a cupholder sleeve comprising glow-in-the-dark material;

wherein

said cupholder sleeve further comprises an outer cylindrical edge and an inner cylindrical edge, said outer cylindrical edge conforming to a cupholder and said inner cylindrical edge conforming to a beverage container.

11. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 10 wherein said cupholder sleeve inner cylindrical edge has a diameter of approximately 2.5 inches.

12. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 10 wherein said glow-in-the-dark material comprises LUNAplast.

13. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 10 wherein said glow-in-the-dark material comprises a zinc sulfide photoluminescent material.

14. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 10 wherein said cupholder system resides in an automobile.

15. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 10 wherein said cupholder system resides in a truck.

16. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 10 wherein said cupholder system resides in a boat.

17. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 10 wherein said cupholder system resides in a recreational vehicle.

18. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 10 wherein said cupholder system resides in a chair.

19. An illuminated cupholder system comprising:

(a) a cupholder detent comprising glow-in-the-dark material;

wherein

said cupholder detent has an inner cylindrical edge conforming to a beverage container.

20. The illuminated cupholder system of claim 19 wherein said glow-in-the-dark material comprises LUNAplast.