LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR A CUP HOLDER ASSEMBLY

• US 20120075842A1
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Canada ULC (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Canada ULC (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: GOTO, KAZUHIRO
• Application Number:
  US12/889,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20120075842A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/154
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/101 fixed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/229 Cup holders

Abstract

A cup holder is provided. The cup holder includes a body having bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall. A cavity is defined by an interior surface of the bottom wall and an interior surface of the sidewall. A power source is joined to an exterior surface of the bottom wall of the body. The exterior surface of the bottom wall of the body is opposite the interior surface of the bottom wall of the body. A LED is electrically coupled to the power source. A reflective surface is configured to direct light from the LED along the bottom wall of the body.

Claims

1. A cup holder comprising:

a body having bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, a cavity defined by an interior surface of the bottom wall and an interior surface of the sidewall;

a power source joined to an exterior surface of the bottom wall of the body, the exterior surface of the bottom wall of the body opposite the interior surface of the bottom wall of the body;

a LED electrically coupled to the power source; and

a reflective surface configured to direct light from the LED along the bottom wall of the body.

2. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is formed in the bottom wall of the body, the reflective surface directing light from the LED through the bottom wall of the body.

3. The cup holder of claim 1 further comprising an insert formed as a disc that extends at least partially along the interior surface of the bottom wall of the body, the reflective surface formed in the insert, the reflective surface directing light from the LED through the insert.

4. The cup holder of claim 1 further comprising an insert including:

a bottom wall extending at least partially along the interior surface of the bottom wall of the body; and

a sidewall extending from the bottom wall of the insert, the sidewall of the insert extending along the interior surface of the sidewall of the body, the reflective surface formed in the insert, the reflective surface directing light from the LED through the insert.

5. A cup holder comprising:

a body having a bottom wall and a sidewall, a cavity defined by an interior surface of the bottom wall of the body and an interior surface of the sidewall of the body;

a power source joined to bottom wall of the body;

a LED electrically coupled to the power source; and

an insert positioned on the interior surface of the bottom wall of the body, the insert having a reflective surface formed therein, the reflective surface directing light from the LED through the insert.

6. The cup holder of claim 5 further comprising a light guide configured to direct light from the LED to the reflective surface.

7. The cup holder of claim 5, wherein the insert includes a disc that extends at least partially along the interior surface of the bottom wall of the body.

8. The cup holder of claim 5, wherein the insert extends at least partially along the interior surface of the sidewall of the body.

9. The cup holder of claim 5, wherein the insert is configured to retain a container, the insert being flexible to accommodate containers having different sizes.

10. The cup holder of claim 5 further comprising multiple LEDs configured to direct light to the reflective surface.

11. The cup holder of claim 5, further comprising a cover positioned on at least a portion of the insert, at least a portion of light from the LED reflected through the cover.

12. The cup holder of claim 5, wherein the bottom wall of the body includes an exterior surface opposite the interior surface of the bottom wall of the body, the power source coupled to the exterior surface of the bottom wall of the body.

13. The cup holder of claim 5, wherein the insert includes:

a bottom positioned proximate to the bottom wall of the body, the bottom of the insert having a bottom diameter;

a top having a top diameter, the top diameter greater than the bottom diameter; and

a sidewall extending between the top and bottom, the sidewall tapered outward from the bottom diameter to the top diameter.

14. A lighting system for a cup holder, the lighting system comprising:

a power source configured to join to an exterior surface of a bottom wall of the cup holder;

a LED electrically coupled to the power source; and

an insert configured to position on an interior surface of the bottom wall of the cup holder, the insert having a reflective surface formed therein, the reflective surface directing light from the LED through the insert.

15. The lighting system of claim 14 further comprising a light guide configured to direct light from the LED to the reflective surface.

16. The lighting system of claim 14, wherein the insert includes a disc configured to extend at least partially along the interior surface of the bottom wall of the cup holder.

17. The lighting system of claim 14, wherein the cup holder includes a sidewall, the insert configured to extend at least partially along an interior surface of the sidewall of the cup holder.

18. The lighting system of claim 14, wherein the insert is configured to retain a container, the insert being flexible to accommodate containers having different sizes.

19. The lighting system of claim 14 further comprising multiple LEDs, the multiple LEDs configured to at least one of illuminate concurrently or illuminate in sequence.

20. The lighting system of claim 14, wherein the insert includes:

a bottom configured to be positioned proximate to the bottom wall of the cup holder, the bottom having a bottom diameter;

a top having a top diameter, the top diameter greater than the bottom diameter; and

a sidewall extending between the top and bottom, the sidewall tapered outward from the bottom diameter to the top diameter.