Lighted cup holder for seating arrangements
View Patent ↗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.
1. A cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement, the apparatus comprising:
a) a cup holder body adapted for attachment to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein 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
b) a flange extending substantially radially outward from the tubular side wall at the open top end of the cup holder, wherein the flange comprises a control switch, wherein the control switch is operatively linked to and controls a massaging mechanism of the seating arrangement.
2. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein said control switch resides within an expanded section of said flange.
3. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the flange further comprises a USB port.
4. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the flange further comprises an audio headset connection.
5. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the flange further comprises a powered reclining mechanism control switch.
6. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein said massage mechanism is located in a seating arrangement to which the cup holder apparatus is attached.
7. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the flange further comprises a volume control switch.
8. A cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement, the apparatus comprising: at least one cup holder having a cup holder body and a flange; 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 the bottom wall define a cup holding receptacle, and wherein the side wall or the bottom wall include one or more slots or holes therethrough; wherein the tubular sidewall is stepped inward adjacent to the bottom wall to form a mounting surface; and wherein the flange extends substantially radially outward from the tubular side wall at the open top end of the cup holder and comprises a control switch, wherein the control switch is operatively linked to and controls a massaging mechanism of the seating arrangement.
9. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 8 , wherein said control switch resides within an expanded section of said flange.
10. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the flange further comprises a USB port.
11. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the flange further comprises an audio headset connection.
12. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the flange further comprises a powered reclining mechanism control switch.
13. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 8 , wherein a massage mechanism controlled by said massage mechanism control switch is located in a seating arrangement to which the cup holder apparatus is attached.
14. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 13 , wherein the flange further comprises a volume control switch.