Vehicle cup holder assembly with photoluminescent accessory for increasing the number of available cup holders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018257535-A1
Application number	US-201715453397-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2017
Priority date	Mar 8, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle cup holder assembly is provided herein. A receptacle is assembled to a vehicle console and a light source is coupled to the receptacle. An accessory is coupled to the receptacle and is deployable therefrom to increase the number of available cup holders in which to receive a beverage container. The accessory is configured to luminesce in response to light excitation by the light source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle cup holder assembly comprising:
a receptacle assembled to a vehicle console; a light source coupled to the receptacle; and an accessory coupled to the receptacle and deployable therefrom to increase the number of available cup holders in which to receive a beverage container, wherein the accessory is configured to luminesce in response to light excitation by the light source.

2 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the accessory is configured as an insert that is stowable in the receptacle and deployable therefrom.

3 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the accessory is configured to be removably engaged to a side of the vehicle console in a deployed position to enable the beverage container to be received in either the receptacle or the accessory.

4 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the light source is operable to provide light excitation to the accessory based on detection of the accessory in a stowed position.

5 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the accessory is configured as a lid removably covering the receptacle and having a cutout interfacing with the receptacle to enable the beverage container to be received in the receptacle via the cutout.

6 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 5 , wherein the accessory is pivotally coupled to the vehicle console via a hinge, and when deployed, the accessory is cantilevered off a side of the vehicle console to enable the beverage container to be received in either the receptacle or the cutout.

7 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 5 , wherein the light source is operable to provide light excitation to the accessory based on detection of the accessory in a cover position.

8 . A vehicle cup holder assembly comprising:
a receptacle assembled to a vehicle console; a light source coupled to the receptacle; and an accessory stowable in the receptacle and configured to luminesce in response to light excitation by the light source, wherein the accessory is deployable from the receptacle to enable receipt of a beverage container in either the receptacle or the accessory.

9 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 8 , wherein the light source is located at a lower extremity of the receptacle and light excitation is transmitted through a base of the accessory to excite a luminescent sidewall of the accessory.

10 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 8 , wherein the accessory is configured to be removably engaged to a side of the vehicle console in a deployed position.

11 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the accessory in a stowed position and a controller configured to operate the light source based on input received from the sensor.

12 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 11 , wherein detection of the accessory in the stowed position prompts the controller to activate the light source in order to provide light excitation to the accessory.

13 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 8 , wherein the light excitation comprises one of visible and invisible light.

14 . A vehicle cup holder assembly comprising:
a receptacle assembled to a vehicle console; a light source coupled to the receptacle; and an accessory covering the receptacle and comprising a cutout interfacing with the receptacle, wherein the accessory is configured to luminesce in response to light excitation by the light source, and wherein the accessory is deployable to enable receipt of a beverage container in either the receptacle or the cutout.

15 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 14 , wherein the light source is located at an upper extremity of the receptacle and comprises a luminescent portion in proximity to the light source when the accessory is in a cover position.

16 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the accessory in a cover position and a controller configured to operate the light source based on input received from the sensor.

17 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 16 , wherein detection of the accessory in the cover position prompts the controller to activate the light source in order to provide light excitation to the accessory.

18 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 14 , wherein the accessory is pivotally coupled to the vehicle console via a hinge.

19 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 18 , wherein in a deployed position, the accessory is cantilevered off a side of the vehicle console.

20 . The vehicle cup holder assembly of claim 14 , wherein the light excitation comprises one of visible and invisible light.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Huebner Annette Lynn
• Greiner Josh
• Hellman Kristin Ann

Classifications

• B60N3/102 Primary

  storable or foldable in a non-use position · CPC title

• B60N3/10 Primary

  of receptacles for food or beverages, e.g. refrigerated · CPC title

• B60Q3/20

  for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments (lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60Q3/60

  characterised by optical aspects · CPC title

• B60Q3/225

  Small compartments, e.g. glove compartments · CPC title