Multi-functional touch cooling cup holder

• US 9,493,102 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emomo Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Emomo Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tang, Wenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, Ryan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Febles, Antonio R
• Application Number:
  US13/386,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20120217772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,164 Days
• Field of Search: 62/3, 62/2, 62/33, 624/571, 624/573, 624/574, 133/3, 133/2, 133/3.3, 133/457.1, 133/457.3, 133/457.4, 220/737, 220/739
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/624 located on side of seat, e.g. on armrest
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/68 Arm-rest tables ; or back-rest tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2023/0283 for one glass or cup
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/02 Glass or bottle holders serving trays with openings for carrying glasses or bottles A47G23/0641; bottle racks A47B73/00; for feeding-bottles A61J9/06; in vehicles B60N3/10
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2483 with electrical heating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0239 using movement detection or gesture recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/104 with refrigerating or warming systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/809 Holders
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/40 Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/007 Bottles or cans
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00

Abstract

A multi-functional touch cooling cup holder includes an annular socket that can accommodate a beverage can or water bottle. At the top of the socket there is a bended edge that is larger than a cylinder of the socket and at the bottom of the socket there is an annular bottom cap. On the cylinder of the socket there is a vertical slot, within which there is a control circuit of the cup holder that is equipped with IC chip. A thermal radiator is installed under the bottom cap. The radiator contains multiple paralleled radiation fins and a cooling fan. A thermoelectric cooler that is installed between the thermal radiator and the thermal conductor and is electrically connected with the control circuit of the cup holder. The cooling side of the thermoelectric cooler faces up, the thermal side faces down and is adhered to the top of the thermal radiator.

Claims

1. A multi-functional touch cooling cup holder, comprising:

a cylindrical cup holder having an annular socket defining a hollow interior space to accommodate a container;

a bended edge at the top of the annular socket, the bended edge having a diameter larger than a diameter of the annular socket;

an edge slot defined by the bended edge and the annular socket;

at least one touch switch on a surface of the bended edge;

a vertical slot in an exterior surface of the annular socket, wherein the vertical slot intersects with the edge slot;

a control circuit within the vertical slot, wherein the control circuit is in electrical communication with the at least one touch switch;

an annular bottom cap at the bottom of the annular socket, wherein the annular bottom cap is separate and distinct from the annular socket;

a thermal radiator installed under the annular bottom cap, the thermal radiator having multiple parallel radiation fins and a cooling fan; and

a thermal conductor separate and distinct from the annular socket and not in direct contact with the annular socket, the thermal conductor having an edge embedded in an outer edge of a bore of the annular bottom cap, a top surface exposed to the hollow interior space, and a bottom surface adhered to a cooling side of a thermoelectric cooler, wherein the thermoelectric cooler is installed between the thermal radiator and the thermal conductor, the thermoelectric cooler being electrically connected with the control circuit.

2. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 1, wherein the a cooling side of the thermoelectric cooler faces upwardly toward the annular socket and a thermal side of the thermoelectric cooler faces downwardly and is adhered to a top side of the thermal radiator.

3. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 1, further including a boss at the bottom of the annular socket of the cup holder, the boss being equipped with an annular LED tube, wherein the tube includes LED lamps of at least two different colors and each of the LED lamps has a separate electric connection with the control circuit of the cup holder.

4. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 1, further including a transparent cover over the bended edge.

5. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 4, wherein each touch switch has a separate electrical connection with the control circuit of the cup holder.

6. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 5, wherein the control circuit includes a power module, a cooling module, a touch panel, a touch control MCU and an output control MCU, the power module being configured to convert an electric supply to an electric voltage required by the MCU and output equipment.

7. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 6, wherein the touch control MCU is configured to receive signals from each touch switch and transmit signals to the output control MCU by means of an inter-integrated circuit.

8. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 7, further including a boss at the bottom of the annular socket of the cup holder, the boss being equipped with an annular LED tube, wherein the output control MCU is configured to receive the signals transmitted by the touch control MCU and controls operation of the cooling module and the LED tube.

9. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 5, wherein at least one electrical connection is a wire within the vertical slot and edge slot.

10. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 1, wherein the thermal conductor is in the shape of a shallow plate turned upside down.

11. A massage chair including the multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 1, the chair comprising a set of touch switches on a touch switch board, and each of the touch switches is separately electrically connected with a control circuit of the massage chair, wherein the control circuit of the massage chair includes multiple sub-circuits that control at least one of an angle of the chair'"'"'s backrest and footrest, an intensity of vibration, kneading massage, and heat treatment.

12. The massage chair of claim 11, wherein the control circuit of the massage chair further includes additional sub-circuits that control at least one of a height of the chair, an intensity of massage and a stereo system.

13. A multi-functional touch cooling cup holder, comprising:

a cylindrical cup holder having an annular socket defining a hollow interior space to accommodate a container;

a bended edge at the top of the annular socket, the bended edge having a diameter larger than a diameter of the annular socket;

an edge slot defined by the bended edge and the annular socket;

at least one touch switch on a surface of the bended edge;

a vertical slot in an exterior surface of the annular socket, wherein the vertical slot intersects with the edge slot;

a control circuit within the vertical slot, wherein the control circuit is in electrical communication with the at least one touch switch;

an annular bottom cap at the bottom of the annular socket, wherein the annular bottom cap is separate and distinct from the annular socket;

a thermal radiator installed under the annular bottom cap, the thermal radiator having multiple parallel radiation fins and a cooling fan;

a thermal conductor separate and distinct from the annular socket and not in direct contact with the annular socket, the thermal conductor having an edge embedded in an outer edge of a bore of the annular bottom cap, a top surface exposed to the hollow interior space, and a bottom surface adhered to a cooling side of a thermoelectric cooler, wherein the thermoelectric cooler is installed between the thermal radiator and the thermal conductor, the thermoelectric cooler being electrically connected with the control circuit; and

at least one LED lamp.

14. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 13, further comprising a boss at the bottom of the annular socket of the cup holder and an annular LED tube comprising the at least one LED lamp, the boss being equipped with the annular LED tube.

15. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 14, wherein the annular LED tube includes LED lamps of at least two different colors, and each of the LED lamps has a separate electric connection with the control circuit.

16. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 13, wherein the control circuit includes a power module, a cooling module, a touch panel, a touch control MCU and an output control MCU, the power module being configured to convert an electric supply to an electric voltage required by the MCU and output equipment.

17. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 16, wherein the touch control MCU is configured to receive signals from each touch switch and transmit signals to the output control MCU, and the output control MCU is configured to receive the signals transmitted by the touch control MCU and controls operation of the cooling module and the at least one LED lamp.

18. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 17, further comprising an LED indicator light associated with each touch switch, the LED indicator light being illuminated when a function associated with a corresponding touch switch is active.

19. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 17, further comprising a lock button that disables operation of the at least one touch switch.

20. The multi-functional touch cooling cup holder of claim 19, further comprising a lock indicator light which illuminates when the lock button is active.