Illuminated cup holder assembly

• US 6,234,439 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rebo Lighting & Electronics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Worldwide Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Townsend, Brad Steven, Anderson, James Burr, Hulse, George Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARSH, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/457,212
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 248/346.11, 248/311.2, 248/312.1, 248/146, 248/176.1, 248/148, 248/309.1, 248/310, 248/314, 248/315, 248/312, 362/562, 362/551, 362/488, 362/101
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position
• 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 3/64 for a single lighting device

Abstract

An illuminated cup holder assembly (10,10′) generally includes an elongated waveguide (12,12′), a cup holder bottom portion (14,14′), and a cup holder top portion (16,16′). The cup holder bottom portion (14,14′) includes a waveguide support (22,22′) disposed above a base (18,18′), with at least a portion of the waveguide (12,12′) disposed on the waveguide support. The cup holder top portion (16,16′) includes a shield (24,24′) extending over the waveguide (12,12′). This assembly (10,10′) splits the cup holder in two wherein the two pieces (14,14′ and 16,16′) create a pocket to hold the waveguide (12,12′) in place. In other words, the top and bottom portions (14,14′ and 16,16′) sandwich the waveguide (12,12′) into place.

Claims

1. A cup holder assembly for use in a vehicle comprising:

an elongated waveguide;

a cup holder bottom portion including a base and a side wall extending up from the base to define a cup-receiving space, the bottom portion further including a waveguide support disposed above the base, with at least a portion of the waveguide disposed on the waveguide support;

a cup holder top portion disposed over the bottom portion and the waveguide, the top portion including a shield extending over the waveguide, whereby said waveguide is adapted to distribute light at said cup holder.

2. The illuminated cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the waveguide support is outside the cup-receiving space.

3. The illuminated cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the waveguide support is inside the cup receiving space.

4. The illuminated cup holder assembly of claim 3 wherein the waveguide support extends under only a portion of the waveguide.

5. The illuminated cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the interior of the shield is reflective.

6. The illuminated cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the shield defines at least one notch for emitting light from the waveguide.

7. The illuminated cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the waveguide includes a base end disposed outside the cup-receiving space and a distal end extending into the cup-receiving space, the distal end including at least one branch extending along the side wall and underneath the shield to cast illumination downwardly into the cup-receiving space.

8. The illuminated cup holder assembly of claim 7 wherein the waveguide has a generally rectangular cross-section.

9. The cup holder assembly of claim 8 wherein the waveguide distal end includes two branches.

10. The illuminated cup holder assembly of claim 9 wherein the branches include chamfered ends.

11. The illuminated cup holder assembly of claim 9 wherein the branches include twisted ends.

12. The illuminated cup holder assembly of claim 9 wherein the branches include enlarged ends.