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 that is operatively linked to and controls a component of the seating arrangement other than the cup holder apparatus.
2. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the control switch resides within an expanded section of the flange.
3. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the control switch is operatively linked to and controls a powered reclining mechanism of the seating arrangement.
4. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the control switch is operatively linked to and controls a messaging mechanism of the seating arrangement.
5. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the flange further comprises a USB port.
6. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the flange further comprises an audio headset connection.
7. 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 that is operatively linked to and controls a component of the of the seating arrangement other than the cup holder apparatus.
8. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the control switch is operatively linked to and controls a powered reclining mechanism of the seating arrangement.
9. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the control switch is operatively linked to and controls a messaging mechanism of the seating arrangement.
10. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the flange further comprises a USB port.
11. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the flange further comprises an audio headset connection.
12. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a light-producing light source for illuminating the cup receptacle.
13. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the light-producing light source comprises a light emitting diode.
14. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 7 , further comprising a light-producing light source for illuminating the cup receptacle.
15. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 14 , wherein the light-producing light source comprises a light emitting diode.
16. 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;
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:
i) a powered reclining mechanism of the seating arrangement, or
ii) a massaging mechanism of the seating arrangement; and
c) a light-producing light source for illuminating the cup receptacle.