Lighted cup holder for seating arrangements

• US 20070247836A1
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raffel Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Raffel Comfort Sciences, LLC
• Inventors: Howman, John, Seidl, Kenneth, Alpert, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/154
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/02 Reclining or easy chairs supports for parts of body A47C7/36, A47C7/50, A47C7/54
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/12 Theatre, auditorium, or similar chairs seats detachably mounted on stadium benches A47C1/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/62 Accessories for chairs
• 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: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/725 for illumination, e.g. lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/001 Apparatus for applying movements to the whole body
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0188 Illumination related features
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/797 for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems
• 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 3/233 Seats; Arm rests; Head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/44 Spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00154 Loudspeakers mounted in the seat back
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0636 : Personal storage means or waste disposal bags
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 : Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0053 : Cabin passenger reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 : the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 : the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 : Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/301 : for furniture
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 : Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 : Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

A method and apparatus include attaching a lighted cup holder to a seating arrangement. The lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, the light-producing source being disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle. A light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source selectively controls production of light by the light source in such a manner that illumination of the cup holder is provided only under conditions where visibility is reduced to the point that it becomes difficult to locate the cup holder. The light-sensitive element is mounted on a master lighted cup holder and controls illumination of the master lighted cup holder and one or more slave lighted cup holders operatively connected to the master lighted cup holder.

Claims

1. A lighted cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement, the apparatus comprising:

at least one lighted cup holder having a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being adapted for attachment to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, and the light-producing light source being disposed within the receptacle for illuminating the receptacle.

2. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the lighted cup holder further comprises a USB connector mounted on the lighted cup holder.

3. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a lighted element disposed within the cup receptacle and operatively connected to the light source for receiving light from the light source and illuminating the receptacle.

4. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the lighted element comprises an elongated member of translucent material having the light source attached thereto.

5. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein:

the cup holder body includes a substantially tubular sidewall, substantially closed at a lower end thereof by a bottom wall, and open at a top end thereof, such that the tubular sidewall and bottom wall define the cup holding receptacle; and

the lighted element is attached within the receptacle adjacent to the bottom wall of the cup holder body.

6. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the tubular sidewall is stepped inward to form a mounting surface for the lighted element, and the lighted element is mounted on the mounting surface.

7. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a light-sensitive element, operatively connected to the light source for selectively controlling production of light by the light source.

8. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the light-sensitive element causes the light source to not produce light when the light-sensing element detects ambient light of a selected intensity.

9. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the light-sensitive element is mounted on the cup holder body.

10. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein:

the cup holder body includes, a substantially tubular sidewall defining an axis of the cup holder, a bottom wall substantially closing the lower end of the cup holder, and an open top end of the cup holder having a flange extending substantially radially outward from the tubular sidewall, such that the tubular sidewall and bottom wall define the cup holding receptacle;

the lighted element is attached within the receptacle adjacent to the bottom wall of the cup holder body; and

the light-sensitive element is attached to the flange at the upper end of the cup holder for receiving ambient light impinging on the upper end of the cup holder.

11. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a master lighted cup holder and a slave lighted cup holder operatively connected to one another such that the light source of the slave lighted cup holder produces light only when commanded to do so by the master lighted cup holder.

12. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the master lighted cup holder includes a light-sensitive element, mounted on the body of the master lighted cup holder and operatively connected to the light sources of both the master and slave lighted cup holders, for selectively controlling production of light by the light sources in both the master and slave lighted cup holders in such a manner that the light-sensitive element causes the light sources to not produce light when the light-sensing element detects ambient light of a selected intensity.

13. A method comprising:

attaching a lighted cup holder to a seating arrangement, wherein the lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, and the light-producing light source being disposed within the receptacle for illuminating the receptacle.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

attaching a second lighted cup holder to the seating arrangement; and

controlling production of light by the light sources of both the first and second lighted cup holders such that the light sources do not produce light when at least one of the lighted sup holders is exposed to ambient light of a selected intensity.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

controlling production of light by the light sources on both the first and second lighted cup holders with a light sensitive element mounted on one of the lighted cup holders.

16. A lighted cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement, the apparatus comprising:

at least one lighted cup holder having a cup holder body, a light-producing light source, and a lighted element including an elongated member of translucent material having the light source attached thereto to be illuminated thereby;

the cup holder body being adapted for attachment to the seating arrangement, and including a substantially tubular sidewall, substantially closed at a lower end thereof by a bottom wall, and open at a top end thereof, such that the tubular sidewall and bottom wall define a cup holding receptacle;

the tubular sidewall being stepped inward to form a mounting surface adjacent the bottom wall for the lighted element, and the lighted element being mounted within the receptacle on the mounting surface adjacent the bottom wall of the cup holder body.

17. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising:

a light-sensitive element mounted on the cup holder body and operatively connected to the light source for selectively controlling production of light by the light source, in such a manner that the light-sensitive element causes the light source to not produce light when the light-sensing element detects ambient light of a selected intensity.

18. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein:

the tubular sidewall of the cup holder body defines an axis of the cup holder, and includes a flange extending substantially radially outward from the tubular sidewall, and

the light sensing element is attached to the flange for receiving ambient light impinging on the light sensing element.

19. A lighted cup holder apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein:

the lighted cup holder defined in claim 18 is a master lighted cup holder; and

wherein the lighted cup holder apparatus further comprises;

a slave lighted cup holder substantially identical to the master lighted cup holder but not including a light sensing element; and

the light-sensitive element mounted on the body of the master lighted cup holder is operatively connected to the light sources of both the master and slave lighted cup holders, for selectively controlling production of light by the light sources in both the master and slave lighted cup holders in such a manner that the light-sensitive element causes the light sources to not produce light when the light-sensing element detects ambient light of a selected intensity.

20. A seating apparatus, comprising:

a seating arrangement; and

a lighted cup holder apparatus attached to the seating arrangement;

the lighted cup holder apparatus including at least one lighted cup holder having a cup holder body and a light-producing light source;

the cup holder, body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein;

the light-producing light source being disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle.

21. A seating apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein

the seating arrangement comprises a massaging mechanism;

and

the lighted cup holder includes a massage controller operatively connected to the massaging mechanism for control thereof;

the massage controller having a user-controllable input for operating the massaging mechanism.

22. A seating apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the seating arrangement includes an armrest having the lighted cup holder mounted therein.

23. A seating apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein, the armrest is upholstered.