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, 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 , further comprising a light-producing light source for illuminating the cup receptacle.
3. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the light-producing light source comprises a light emitting diode.
4. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the light-producing light source comprises an elongated member of translucent material attached to the light-producing light source.
5. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the translucent material is plastic.
6. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the translucent material is glass.
7. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the flange further comprises a light sensitive element operatively connected to the light-producing light source.
8. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the light-producing light source does not produce light when the light sensitive element detects ambient light of a selected intensity.
9. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the flange further comprises a USB port.
10. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the flange further comprises an audio headset connection.