Ambient lighting for vehicle interior floor console

• US 20080122241A1
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Williams, Michael, Gardner, Cornel, Bejin, Peter, Whitens, Mike, Blackmore, Kathleen
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/37.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/793 for use as storage compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/101 fixed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/229 Cup holders
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor

Abstract

A floor console to provide ambient lighting in the interior of a vehicle is disclosed. The floor console includes lighting elements strategically positioned to illuminate the footwells of the vehicle, the cupholders, and the storage bin. The same lighting element may be used to illuminate one or more of the cupholders and the storage bin. The preferred lighting element is an LED while other lighting elements may be used. The floor console is also provided with wiring and an ECU and may be readily connected to the vehicle'"'"'s power system.

Claims

1. A floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a footwell and a main electrical system, the floor console assembly comprising:

a console body having a cupholder and storage bin assembly, said cupholder and storage bin assembly including a removable cupholder and a storage bin, said storage bin having a cupholder-receiving opening, said removable cup holder being removably positionable on said cupholder-receiving opening of said storage bin;

a [footwell ambient lighting element for providing ambient illumination to the footwell and a] dual function cupholder ambient lighting element, said ambient lighting element being integrated with said console body, said dual function cupholder ambient lighting element being fitted in said console adjacent said cupholder-receiving opening of said storage bin assembly at a position whereby when said removable cupholder is in its installed position in said opening of said storage bin said dual function cupholder ambient lighting element illuminates said removable cupholder and when said removable cupholder is not in position in said cupholder ambient lighting element provides illumination to said removable storage bin cupholder when in position adjacent said upper portion of said storage bin and to said storage bin when said removable said top of said storage bin said dual function cuphlder ambient lighting element iluniates said storage bin; and

a console wiring harness integrated with said console body, said ambient lighting element being electrically connected with said console wiring harness, said console wiring harness being electrically attachable with the main electrical system of the motor vehicle.

3. The floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein said ambient lighting elements are selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes and incandescent bulbs.

4. The floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle of claim 1, the motor vehicle having a rear passenger area, said floor console assembly including a rear end adjacent the rear passenger area and a cupholder formed in said rear end, said floor console assembly further including a rear cupholder ambient lighting element positioned in said rear end of said floor console assembly.

2. (canceled)

5. A floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a left footwell and a right footwell, the motor vehicle having a main electrical system, the floor console assembly comprising:

a console body;

a first ambient lighting element for illuminating the left footwell and a second ambient lighting element for illuminating the right footwell, said first ambient lighting element and said second ambient lighting element being integrated with said console body;

a storage bin formed in said console, said storage bin having a cupholder-receiving opening formed therein

a removable cupholder removably positionable on said cupholder-receiving opening of said storage bin;

a dual function cupholder ambient lighting element for alternatively providing ambient illumination to said cupholder and to said storage bin, said ambient lighting element being fitted in said console adjacent said cupholder-receiving opening of said storage bin assembly at a position whereby when said removable cupholder is in its installed position in said opening of said storage bin said dual function cupholder ambient lighting element illuminates said removable cupholder and when said removable cupholder is not in position in said cupholder ambient lighting element provides illumination to said removable storage bin cupholder when in position adjacent said upper portion of said storage bin and to said storage bin when said removable said top of said storage bin said dual function cuphlder ambient lighting element iluniates said storage bin; and

a console wiring harness integrated with said console body, said first ambient lighting element and said second ambient lighting element being electrically connected with said console wiring harness, said console wiring harness being electrically attachable with the main electrical system of the motor vehicle.

6. The floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle of claim 5, wherein said first ambient lighting element and said second ambient lighting element are selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes and incandescent bulbs.

12. The floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle of claim 5, the motor vehicle having a rear passenger area, said floor console assembly including a rear end adjacent the rear passenger area and a cupholder formed in said rear end, said floor console assembly further including a rear cupholder ambient lighting element positioned in said rear end of said floor console assembly.

13. The floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle of claim 12, wherein said rear cupholder ambient lighting element is selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes and incandescent bulbs.

14. The floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle of claim 5, further including an ambient lighting element controller integrated with said console body and said console wiring harness.

15. The floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle of claim 5, wherein said console body includes a floor console top finish panel and a floor console base, a floor console top finish panel ambient lighting element fitted in said floor console top finish panel and a floor console base lighting element fitted in said floor console base, and wherein said console wiring harness includes a top finish panel component and a console base component, said floor console top finish panel ambient lighting element being electrically associated with said top finish panel component and said floor console base lighting element being electrically associated with said console base component.

7. (canceled)

8. The floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle of claim 7, wherein said cupholder ambient lighting element is selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes and incandescent bulbs.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

16. A floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a driver'"'"'s footwell, a passenger'"'"'s footwell and a main electrical system, the floor console assembly comprising:

a console body;

a driver'"'"'s footwell ambient lighting element for providing ambient illumination to the driver'"'"'s footwell, and a passenger'"'"'s footwell ambient lighting element for providing ambient illumination to the passenger'"'"'s footwell, said ambient lighting elements being integrated with said console body;

a storage bin formed in said console body, said storage bin having a cupholder-receiving opening formed therein

a removable cupholder removably positionable on said cupholder-receiving opening of said storage bin;

a dual function cupholder ambient lighting element for alternatively providing ambient illumination to said cupholder and to said storage bin, said ambient lighting element being fitted in said console adjacent said cupholder-receiving opening of said storage bin assembly at a position whereby when said removable cupholder is in its installed position in said opening of said storage bin said dual function cupholder ambient lighting element illuminates said removable cupholder and when said removable cupholder is not in position in said cupholder ambient lighting element provides illumination to said removable storage bin cupholder when in position adjacent said upper portion of said storage bin and to said storage bin when said removable said top of said storage bin said dual function cuphlder ambient lighting element iluniates said storage bin; and

a console wiring harness integrated with said console body, said ambient lighting elements being electrically connected with said console wiring harness, said console wiring harness being electrically attachable with the main electrical system of the motor vehicle.

18. The floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle of claim 16, the motor vehicle having a rear passenger area, said floor console assembly including a rear end adjacent the rear passenger area and a cupholder formed in said rear end, said floor console assembly further including a rear cupholder ambient lighting element positioned in said rear end of said floor console assembly.

19. The floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle of claim 16, the motor vehicle having a left rear footwell and a right rear footwell, said floor console assembly including a left rear footwell ambient lighting element and a right rear footwell ambient lighting element, said ambient lighting elements being electrically connected with said console wiring harness.

20. The floor console assembly for use in a motor vehicle of claim 19, wherein said ambient lighting elements are selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes and incandescent bulbs.

17. (canceled)