Lighted cup holder for seating arrangements
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 chair comprising a lighted cup holder apparatus, the lighted cup holder apparatus comprising
at least one lighted cup holder having a cup holder body adapted for attachment to the chair, wherein the cup holder body has a lower end, a top end, and a cup holding receptacle therebetween;
an illumination circuit comprising one or more light sources that illuminate the lighted cup holder apparatus;
a control switch attached to the top end of the cup holder body that is operatively connected to the illumination circuit; and
at least one control switch attached to the top end of the cup holder body that is operatively connected to a power reclining mechanism of the chair.
2. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light sources is a light emitting diode (LED).
3. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lighted cup holder comprises a USB connector mounted on the lighted cup holder.
4. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the chair comprises two lighted cup holders.
5. A loveseat or sofa comprising a lighted cup holder apparatus, the lighted cup holder apparatus comprising
at least one lighted cup holder having a cup holder body adapted for attachment to the loveseat or sofa, wherein the cup holder body has a lower end, a top end, and a cup holding receptacle therebetween;
an illumination circuit comprising one or more light sources that illuminate the lighted cup holder apparatus;
a control switch attached to the top end of the cup holder body that is operatively connected to the illumination circuit; and
at least one control switch attached to the top end of the cup holder body that is operatively connected to a power reclining mechanism of the loveseat or sofa.
6. The loveseat or sofa of claim 5 , wherein the loveseat or sofa comprises two lighted cup holders.
7. The loveseat or sofa of claim 5 , wherein the loveseat or sofa comprises two reclining chair portions.
8. The loveseat or sofa of claim 5 , wherein the sofa comprises a fold-down backrest section.
9. The loveseat or sofa of claim 5 , wherein the at least one lighted cup holder comprises a USB connector mounted on the lighted cup holder.