PHOTOLUMINESCENT CUPHOLDER ILLUMINATION

• US 20150136932A1
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Bejin, Peter Joseph, Muiter, James Hadley
• Granted Patent: US 9,538,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/346.05
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0309 Illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/101 fixed
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/108 with resilient holding elements
• 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 3/68 using ultraviolet light

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention, an illuminated cupholder assembly is disclosed. The assembly comprises an upper portion comprising a lower mating portion forming a first diameter and a base portion comprising an upper mating portion forming a second diameter. A light ring is disposed substantially between the lower mating portion and the upper mating portion in an assembled configuration. The cupholder assembly comprises a photoluminescent portion configured to convert a first wavelength to a second wavelength to illuminate at least a portion of the cupholder assembly.

Claims

1. An illuminated cupholder assembly comprising:

an upper portion comprising a lower mating portion forming a first diameter;

a base portion comprising an upper mating portion forming a second diameter; and

a light ring disposed substantially between the lower mating portion and the upper mating portion in an assembled configuration, wherein the cupholder assembly comprises a photoluminescent portion configured to convert a first wavelength to a second wavelength.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lower base portion forms a lower cavity comprising a bottom surface.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter.

4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the photoluminescent portion is disposed proximate the light ring such that the second wavelength is downward into the lower cavity to illuminate the base portion.

5. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the light ring is configured to emit at least a portion of the first wavelength toward the base portion.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the bottom surface comprises the photoluminescent material such that in response to receiving the first emission, the bottom surface is illuminated.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a light source configured to emit a first emission of light at the first wavelength into a light transmissive body of the light ring.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion forms an upper cavity comprising a drafted cylindrical form.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light ring is configured to interconnect the lower mating portion to the upper mating portion in the assembled configuration.

10. A cupholder assembly comprising:

an upper portion comprising an lower mating portion;

a base portion comprising an upper mating portion and forming a cavity comprising a bottom surface comprising a photoluminescent portion; and

a light ring disposed substantially between the lower mating portion and the upper mating portion in an assembled configuration, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert a first wavelength of light a second wavelength.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, further comprising a light source configured to emit a first emission of light at the first wavelength into a light transmissive portion of the light ring.

12. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the light ring is configured to emit a first wavelength of light toward the photoluminescent portion.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein the upper portion forms an at least partially cylindrical opening forming a first diameter proximate the lower mating portion.

14. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein the upper mating portion has a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter.

15. The assembly according to claim 14, wherein the light ring is configured to direct the light at the first wavelength downward between the first diameter and the second diameter to emit the first wavelength toward the base portion.

16. The assembly according to claim 14, wherein the light ring is configured to interconnect the lower mating portion and the upper mating portion in the assembled configuration.

17. A cupholder assembly comprising:

an upper portion comprising a lower mating portion;

a base portion forming a cavity and comprising a base, an inner wall, and an upper mating portion; and

an interchangeable ring structure for assembly disposed substantially between the lower mating portion and the upper mating portion in an assembled configuration and comprising at least a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein;

in the first configuration the interchangeable ring corresponds to a light ring configured to illuminate the base portion; and

in the second configuration the interchangeable ring corresponds to a spacer configured to interconnect the lower mating portion to the lower mating portion.

18. The cupholder assembly according to claim 17, further comprising a light emitter configured to emit a first wavelength of light into a light transmissive body of the light ring.

19. The cupholder assembly according to claim 18, further comprising a photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the cavity configured to convert the first wavelength to a second wavelength.

20. The cupholder assembly according to claim 19, wherein the photoluminescent portion is disposed proximate at least one of the light ring and the inner wall of the cavity.