Photoluminescent cupholder illumination

• US 9,538,874 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Muiter, James Hadley, Bejin, Peter Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/490,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20150136932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 362487-488, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 different from the first 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 separately disposed proximate the light ring and 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 a 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 of the cupholder assembly, wherein the photoluminescent portion is separately disposed proximate the light ring and configured to convert a first wavelength of light to 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.