Photoluminescent cupholder illumination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9539941-B2
Application number	US-201414326851-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2014
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for illuminating a vehicle cupholder is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cavity formed by a console. The cavity is configured to receive a container and has a base portion. The base portion comprises a light-transmissive portion configured to transmit electromagnetic energy. A light source is configured to emit a first emission proximate the light-transmissive portion. The apparatus further comprises a photoluminescent portion proximate the light-transmissive portion. The photoluminescent portion is configured to be excited in response to the first emission to generate a second emission configured to illuminate the cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for illuminating a vehicle cupholder comprising:
a cavity formed by a console having a base portion configured to receive a container, the base portion comprising a light-transmissive portion configured to transmit electromagnetic energy;
a light source configured to emit a first emission proximate the light-transmissive portion;
a photoluminescent portion proximate the light-transmissive portion, configured to be excited in response to the first emission, the excitation generating a second emission configured to illuminate the cavity; and
a feature disposed on a wall of the cavity, the feature comprising a second photoluminescent portion excited in response to the first emission transmitted through the light-transmissive portion.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first emission comprises a shorter wavelength than the second emission.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second emission comprises a plurality of wavelengths configured to generate a substantially white light.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the photoluminescent portion is disposed on the light-transmissive portion.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises a polymer mat having the photoluminescent portion molded therein.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert a first portion of the first emission from a first wavelength to a second wavelength such that a second portion of the first emission at the first wavelength is operable to excite the feature.

7. A console configured to illuminate a vehicle container holder comprising:
a semi-cylindrical cavity configured to receive a container formed by a sidewall of the console;
a base portion abutting the sidewall and configured to transmit light energy;
a light source disposed proximate the base portion configured to emit a first emission;
a feature located proximate the sidewall, wherein the first emission is transmitted through the base portion and configured to excite the feature to emit a second emission, wherein the base portion comprises a photoluminescent portion configured to convert a first portion of the first emission to a third emission and transmit a second portion of the first emission to the feature.

8. The console according to claim 7 , wherein the first emission comprises a shorter wavelength than the second emission.

9. The console according to claim 7 , wherein the feature comprises a photoluminescent portion configured to emit the second emission in response to the excitation from the first emission.

10. The console according to claim 7 , wherein the first emission is emitted from the base portion through at least a portion of the semi-cylindrical cavity.

11. The console according to claim 7 , wherein the feature comprises a ring disposed radially along the sidewall to illuminate the container holder.

12. The console according to claim 7 , wherein the feature comprises a raised portion extending into the semi-cylindrical cavity from the sidewall configured to secure a container in the container holder.

13. The console according to claim 7 , wherein the first emission comprises a shorter wavelength than the third emission.

14. A vehicle console assembly configured to hold beverage containers comprising:
a first cavity having a first base portion and configured to hold a beverage;
a second cavity having a second base portion and configured to hold a beverage;
a light source configured to emit a first emission proximate the first and second base portions, wherein the first and second base portions comprise a photoluminescent material configured to convert the first emission to a second emission in response to an excitation of the photoluminescent material, wherein the first and second base portions are configured to transmit a portion of the first emission to a feature located in at least one of the first cavity and the second cavity, the feature comprising a second photoluminescent material configured to emit a third emission in response to receiving the portion of the first emission.

15. The console assembly according to claim 14 , further comprising:
an optic device configured to receive the first emission and substantially spread the first emission about a surface of each of the first base portion and the second base portion.

16. The console assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the light source comprises an LED configured to emit the first emission at a first wavelength and the second emission is converted by the photoluminescent material to a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Gardner Cornel Lewis
• Bross Chad M

Classifications

• B60Q3/0243 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60Q3/008

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60Q3/229

  Cup holders · CPC title

• B60Q3/68 Primary

  using ultraviolet light · CPC title

• B60Q3/20 Primary

  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