CUP HOLDER ASSEMBLY WITH INTEGRATED NIGHTLIGHT

Abstract

A cup holder assembly includes a body, a base portion extending outwardly from the body, and a cup retainer extending outwardly from the body above the base portion. A motion sensor is attached to the body above the cup retainer. A nightlight is integrated into the cup retainer and configured to be illuminated when the motion sensor is activated.

Claims

1. A cup holder assembly comprising: a body; a base portion extending outwardly from the body; a cup retainer extending outwardly from the body above the base portion; a motion sensor attached to the body above the cup retainer; and a nightlight integrated into the cup retainer and configured to be illuminated when the motion sensor is activated.

2. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is below the base.

3. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor has a beam angle of about 60 degrees.

4. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor has a range of about three feet.

5. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cup retainer comprises a ring.

6. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nightlight comprises a plurality of lights.

7. The cup holder assembly according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of lights is located 90 degrees around the cup retainer from an adjacent of the plurality of lights.

8. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the nightlight is configured to shine outwardly of the cup retainer.

9. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the nightlight is configured to shine inwardly of the cup retainer.

10. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a front surface, wherein the body and the cup retainer extend outwardly from the front surface.

11. The cup holder assembly according to claim 10, wherein the nightlight comprises a flexible tube encased within the cup retainer and extends from the front surface of the body, through the cup retainer, and terminates at or proximate to the front surface of the body.

12. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply mounted in the body, wherein the nightlight is electrically connected to the power supply.

13. The cup holder assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a processor mounted in the body, wherein the motion sensor and the light are operatively connected to the processor.

14. A cup holder assembly comprising: a body; a cup holder attached to the body; a light attached to the body; and a motion sensor attached to the body, wherein activation of the motion sensor illuminates the light.

15. The cup holder assembly according to claim 14, wherein the light is directly attached to the cup holder.

16. The cup holder assembly according to claim 14, wherein the cup holder comprises a ring and a base portion located below the ring.

17. The cup holder assembly according to claim 16, wherein the light is mounted in the ring.

18. The cup holder assembly according to claim 17, herein the light is configured to shine outwardly of the ring and inwardly of the ring.

19. The cup holder assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a processor mounted in the body, wherein the motion sensor and the light are operatively connected to the processor.

20. A cup holder assembly comprising: a body; a planar base portion extending outwardly from the body; a cup retainer ring extending outwardly from the body such that the base portion is below the cup retainer ring; a nightlight extending around the cup retainer ring; a motion sensor attached to the body, the motion sensor configured to activate the night light; a power supply mounted in the body, wherein the nightlight is electrically connected to the power supply; and a processor mounted in the body, wherein the power supply, the motion sensor, and the light are operatively connected to the processor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup holder assembly with an integrated nightlight according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 1A is an exemplary electrical schematic drawing for the cup holder of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 1B is an exemplary schematic view of the sensor used in the schematic drawing of FIG. 1A

[0013] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the cup holder of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cup holder of FIG. 1; and

[0015] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the cup holder of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principle of the invention and its application and practical use and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

[0017] Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term “implementation.”

[0018] As used in this application, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion.

[0019] The word “about” is used herein to include a value of +/−10 percent of the numerical value modified by the word “about” and the word “generally” is used herein to mean “without regard to particulars or exceptions.”

[0020] Additionally, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

[0021] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and range should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word “about” or “approximately” preceded the value of the value or range.

[0022] The use of figure numbers and/or figure reference labels in the claims is intended to identify one or more possible embodiments of the claimed subject matter in order to facilitate the interpretation of the claims. Such use is not to be construed as necessarily limiting the scope of those claims to the embodiments shown in the corresponding figures.

[0023] It should be understood that the steps of the exemplary methods set forth herein are not necessarily required to be performed in the order described, and the order of the steps of such methods should be understood to be merely exemplary. Likewise, additional steps may be included in such methods, and certain steps may be omitted or combined, in methods consistent with various embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] Although the elements in the following method claims, if any, are recited in a particular sequence with corresponding labeling, unless the claim recitations otherwise imply a particular sequence for implementing some or all of those elements, those elements are not necessarily intended to be limited to being implemented in that particular sequence.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the present invention provides a cup holder assembly (“assembly 100”) with an integrated nightlight 150 that is activated by a motion sensor 180. Referring specifically to FIG. 1, assembly 100 includes a main body 102 that attaches to a vertical surface, such as a wall, a nightstand or other feature proximate to a bed that has a generally vertical surface. Body 102 includes a rear surface 104 and a front surface 106, opposed from rear surface 104, as well as a top surface 108 and a bottom surface 110.

[0026] Body 102 also includes the power and control logic to operate nightlight 150 and motion sensor 180. Referring to FIG. 1A, electrical power is provided by a power source, such as a battery 112, that is housed within body 102. Battery 112 can be a replaceable battery or a rechargeable battery. If battery 112 is a rechargeable battery, battery 112 can be solar recharged, or electrically recharged via a charging connection, such as a USB port. In an exemplary embodiment, battery 112 can be 2 AA DC batteries, although those skilled in the art will recognize that battery can be other sizes and numbers of batteries as well.

[0027] A processor 114 is operatively connected to battery 112, nightlight 150, and motion sensor 180 to power nightlight 150 when motion is detected by motion sensor 180. In an exemplary embodiment, processor 114 can illuminate nightlight 150 in operation for approximately 30 seconds, although those skilled in the art will recognize that nightlight 150 can illuminate nightlight 150 for more or less than 30 seconds. FIG. 1A shows an exemplary electrical schematic drawing used to illuminate nightlight 150 upon activation of motion sensor 180, while FIG. 1B shows that motion sensor 180 can have a beam angle of about 60 degrees and can detect motion as far as three feet away, although those skilled in the art will recognize that motion sensor 180 can have other operational parameters as well.

[0028] Rear surface 104 can include an attachment means (not shown), such as, for example, an adhesive, a hook and loop fastener, a screw hole or other suitable means to securely, but removably, attach assembly 100 to the feature.

[0029] Assembly 100 also includes a planar base portion 116 that extends outwardly from front surface 106 proximate to bottom surface 110 of body 102. Base portion 116 is sized to vertically support a cup (not shown) that is held by assembly 100.

[0030] A cup retainer 120 extends outwardly from front surface 106 of body 110. Cup retainer 120 is sized to allow the cup to be inserted therethrough from the top of cup retainer 120 and lowered onto base portion 116. While base portion vertically supports the cup, cup retainer 120 laterally supports the cup to prevent the cup from falling off base portion 116. Nightlight 150 is housed within cup retainer 120 as will be described in more detail herein.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, cup retainer 120 is a generally closed circular shape. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that cup retainer 120 can be two separate curved or arcuate arms with an open space between free ends of the arms that encompass over 180 degrees around the perimeter of the cup. Alternatively, the arms can be linear segments that extend around a portion of the cup sufficiently to retain the cup onto base portion 116.

[0032] Motion sensor 180 is mounted below base portion in front surface 106. Motion sensor 180 is configured to sense motion in front of sensor 180 and below the cup such that the sensing transmits an electronic signal to the processor 114 to illuminate nightlight 150.

[0033] Nightlight 150 can be an LED embedded in a fiber optic line that is operatively connected to battery 112 and processor 114 such that, when processor 114 receives a signal from motion detector 180, processor 114 transmits a signal to nightlight 150 such that nightlight 150 is illuminated. Nightlight 150 can stay illuminated for about 30 seconds, or whatever time period is determined by processor 114. Nightlight 150 can be a flexible tube that is generally encased within cup retainer 120 and extends from front surface 106 of body 102, through cup retainer 120, and terminates at or proximate to front surface 106 of body 102.

[0034] Cup retainer 120 includes a plurality of exterior openings 122 that allow light from nightlight 150 to shine outwardly from cup retainer 120. Retainer clips 124 are spaced between adjacent openings 122 to retain nightlight 150 within cup retainer 120. Optionally, interior openings 126 can be formed opposite retainer clips 124 to allow light from nightlight 150 to shine inwardly, toward the cup.

[0035] Optionally, a secondary light (not shown) can be located in bottom surface 110 and triggered by the same motion as nightlight 150. The secondary light can be used to illuminate and area below assembly 100 and the cup to enable a user to see what is on the floor area below the cup.

[0036] A screw hole 160 is provided to secure assembly 100 to a wall or other structure. Alternatively, an adhesive can be provided on the rear surface 104 of body 102 to secure assembly 100 to the wall or other rigid structure.

[0037] In an exemplary embodiment, body 102, base portion 116 and cup retainer 120 can be constructed from a rigid polymer, such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, although those skilled in the art will recognize that these components can be constructed from other materials as well.

[0038] To use assembly 100, assembly 100 is mounted vertically onto a support feature. A cup (not shown) is inserted through cup retainer 120 and lowered on to base portion 116. When a user waves his/her hand in front of motion sensor 180, nightlight 150 (and the optional secondary light) is illuminated so that the user can see the cup in assembly 100.

[0039] It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.