TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED RECEIVING AND/OR HOLDING DEVICE FOR ARTICLES SUCH AS BEVERAGE CONTAINERS AND METHOD FOR ITS OPERATION

Abstract

A temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device comprising: (a) at least one temperature control element for the heating and/or cooling of at least one cavity as well as an object received therein, and (b) at least one operating element situated in physical proximity to the at least one cavity for the activating, deactivating, and/or controlling of a heating function or a cooling function of the at least one temperature control element, which operating element especially with the temperature control element activated and/or the object received in the cavity is optically highlighted and/or identified in an operating console of a vehicle interior; wherein the temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device receives an object, and the temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device is part of a vehicle interior, with the at least one cavity for receiving of the object.

Description

FIELD

The present teachings concern a temperature controlled receiving and/or holding device with the features of the teachings herein for an article such as a beverage container. The present teachings furthermore concerns a method for the operation or control of such a device with the features of the teachings herein.

BACKGROUND

For some time now cup and beverage holders have been increasingly integrated in the interior of motor vehicles. Often it is desirable, for comfort reasons, not only to provide holders for the firm receiving of beverage cups, but also to cool them. For this purpose, variants of beverage holders in the central consoles of vehicles are known, which are connected to air ducts of air conditioning systems and thereby can be supplied with cooling conditioned air, as long as the air conditioning system is delivering cooling air to the vehicle interior, especially the rear area of the passenger compartment.

With further heightened demands for comfort of use it is desirable to also outfit such cup or beverage holders with a heating function, e.g., in order to keep warm beverages warm for a rather long time. Since it is furthermore desirable with such a function to choose between a heating function and a cooling function or to deactivate the heating or cooling function, additional operating devices are needed so that the driver or passenger of the vehicle can exert the desired influence on the functions of the beverage holder.

In the interest of an ergonomic design for the vehicle driver and in the interest of functional security in the selection of the different functions and in the identification of the selected functions of such temperature controllable beverage holders, special attention must be paid to the operating elements built into the vehicle interior, especially since many modern motor vehicles have long suffered from an overloading of the interior with numerous display and operating elements, switches, selector levers, etc. The beverage holder should neither form a break in the design of the vehicle interior nor should the activating and/or display elements associated with the functions to be selected for the beverage excessively distract the driver or demand his heightened attention.

The priority goal of the invention is seen as being to provide the most comfortably manipulated receiving and/or holding device for beverage cups, bottles, or similar articles, which can in particular be part of the vehicle interior. The device, besides its most simple possible operating logic for control of a heating and/or cooling function, should also be able to display in a clearly recognized optical manner the mode selected by the driver or a passenger.

SUMMARY

This goal of the invention is accomplished with the objects of the independent claims. Features of advantageous modifications of the invention will emerge from the dependent claims as well as the following specification.

The present teachings provide: a temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device comprising: (a) at least one temperature control element for the heating and/or cooling of at least one cavity as well as an object received therein, and (b) at least one operating element situated in physical proximity to the at least one cavity for the activating, deactivating, and/or controlling of a heating function or a cooling function of the at least one temperature control element, which operating element especially with the temperature control element activated and/or the object received in the cavity is optically highlighted and/or identified in an operating console of a vehicle interior; wherein the temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device receives an object, and the temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device is part of a vehicle interior, with the at least one cavity for receiving of the object.

The present teachings provide: a method for the control and/or for the operation of a temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device for an object such as a beverage container, which is part of a vehicle interior and which is outfitted with at least one cavity for the receiving of a beverage cup or a bottle or the like, wherein a temperature control element for the heating and/or the cooling of the cavity can be activated by an operating element disposed in physical proximity to the cavity when subjected to an object received therein.

In order to accomplish the mentioned goals, the invention proposes a temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device for an object being cooled or heated, such as in particular a beverage container, which comprises the features of the teachings herein. The receiving and/or holding device according to the invention can, in particular, be part of the interior of a road vehicle; but it can basically also find use in other contexts, such as in railway vehicles, in passenger compartments and/or cockpits of airplanes, in construction machinery or automotive working machines of the most diverse kind. Therefore, when the present invention speaks of a vehicle interior, this should not be understood in a limiting sense, but rather encompasses at the same time all mentioned application instances and variants. The receiving and/or holding device according to the invention comprises at least one cavity for the receiving of a beverage container or a bottle or the like, which can have a hollow cylindrical or conical shape in particular, so that the object being temperature controlled or the beverage container being temperature controlled can be placed therein from above and removed once more as needed. The cavity open at the top is associated with at least one temperature control element for the heating and/or cooling of the cavity as well as an object received therein, the temperature control element being able to heat or cool as desired the inner walls or parts of the inner walls and/or the bottom of the cavity and thus the object in contact with the cavity. Furthermore, the device comprises at least one operating element situated in physical proximity to the cavity for the activating, deactivating and/or controlling of a heating function or a cooling function, especially with an object received in the cavity. The operating element can be formed in particular by at least one switch, having an optical highlighting or identification as soon as an object is received in the cavity. Thus, the at least one operating element in one advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention can be formed by at least one backlit keypad, or also optionally by two backlit keypads, one of which can activate a heating function, while the other keypad can activate a cooling function.

The at least one operating element or the keypad or keypads can be formed, e.g., by a capacitive switch or by two or more capacitive switches, which is/are sensitive to the proximity of a human finger and/or which is/are associated with a proximity sensor(s). Likewise conceivable are operating elements or switches with optical sensor devices, which for example can sense the proximity and/or the contacting of a smooth surface by a finger or hand, or also various finger or hand movements, and generate corresponding control commands. The optical sensor devices can also be formed by light barriers, reflection sensors or the like, which can respond to an interruption of a defined beam path by a finger of hand movement. Other sensor principles are conceivable, such as an inductive detection of finger or hand movements.

In this way, a very simple and ergonomically favorable activation is possible, even without touching the switch precisely or having to look at the switch during the activation. Thanks to a placement of the device and especially the operating elements or keypads within reach of the vehicle driver, he can reach the operating elements or keypads with no problem and activate the desired function, especially when the operating elements are located in his lateral field of vision.

An especially preferred variant of the device according to the invention can have the at least one cavity coordinated with lighting means to generate emissions of light, in particular emissions of colored light and/or to generate different color tones and/or lighting intensities when an object is received in the cavity. Thus, the at least one cavity can be coordinated with a luminous ring in the area of its upper edge, for example, which can shine with different colors depending on the function set for the temperature control element. Optionally, the luminous ring can also shine with different intensities. For example, it can also be a partial ring, a closed ring, an open ring, or several segments and so on, which are arranged in the area of the at least one cavity, preferably at its upper edge, in order to show the user the function setting at a glance and especially also in his indirect field of vision, which can avoid any unnecessary distraction due to a not immediately evident or ergonomically unfavorable design of the optical codes. Thus, e.g., one can imagine that the upper edge of the cavity will shine blue when the cooling function is set, while the color can be red when the heating function is set. When the temperature control element is switched off, so the device can serve as a traditional beverage holder, the luminous ring can either shine in a neutral color, such as white, of the lighting function can be advisedly switched off.

Furthermore, it may be favorable from an ergonomic standpoint to coordinate the at least one operating element with lighting means to create colored light emissions and/or to create different color tones and/or lighting intensities when an object is received in the cavity and/or when the temperature control element is activated. The at least one operating element or operating elements can be, e.g., printed circuit film surfaces, which thereby work like invisible switches when the cavity is not activated or when the temperature control element is not activated. Thanks to such a design of the operating elements or keypads, which can be backlit if need be in different colors and/or with different icons as part of a surface, different optical effects can be realized, such as a colored identification of the fields when the cooling or heating is activated, and advisedly an activated cooling function can be identified by a blue keypad and an activated heating function by a red keypad. Furthermore, additional icons can identify the respectively selected function of the temperature control element.

Another variant embodiment of the device according to the invention can coordinate an additional temperature display with the at least one cavity, its lighting means and/or the at least one operating element. This can be, e.g., a digit display, a progress meter, or the like. Since the exact temperature values are not needed in many application instances, it can also be enough to identify the selected temperature with colored bars, with colored rings around the cavity, and so on. An identifying color blue or red can shine more intensely with increasing activation of the cooling function or the heating function, relaying to the user the normally required information.

With all these functions, color tones, lighting effects, etc., it may be advisable to deactivate them when the object or beverage container is removed, preferably providing a time delay sufficient to remove the container for drinking and then replace it after a short time. On the other hand, if the object or container is removed for a longer time, it is advisable to deactivate the heating or cooling function permanently, switch off the colored rings, and make the backlit or otherwise identified operating fields disappear visually.

The cavity of the device according to the invention which is typically configured at least for a section as a hollow cylinder or cone for the receiving of an object such as a beverage cup, a bottle, or the like, can optionally comprise suitable clamping elements for the frictional locking and/or clamping of an object received in the cavity. These clamping elements can be formed by spring-loaded bars, pins, or the like, which are located on the inner envelope surface of the cavity. The depth of the cavity depends on the typical height of the object being held therein. Insofar as the cavity is supposed to serve as a beverage receptacle or holder for a beverage container, a depth of around four to six centimeters can be enough, or optionally somewhat more, such as up to ten centimeters.

To accomplish the aforementioned purpose the invention furthermore proposes a method for the control and/or for the operation of a temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device for an object such as a beverage container, which is part of a vehicle interior and which is outfitted with at least one cavity, such as a hollow cylindrical or conical one, for the receiving of a beverage cup or a bottle or the like. In the method, a temperature control element coordinated with the cavity for the heating and/or the cooling of the cavity can be activated by an operating element disposed in physical proximity to the cavity when subjected to an object received therein. Preferably, a heating function or a cooling function can be activated by means of the operating element as soon as an object is present in the cavity. Furthermore, it can be provided that the temperature control element shuts off automatically as soon as the object is removed from the cavity. This shut-off can advantageously or optionally be coupled with a time delay in order to give the user an opportunity to remove the object or the beverage container briefly for drinking and the put it back, without the temperature control element being permanently deactivated in this way. The temperature control element can remain activated permanently in the selected heating or cooling step when the object or the beverage container is removed only for a defined period of time and then put back into the cavity. In such cases, it can be advisable for the colored markings of the cavity and/or the operating elements to shine intermittently or blink. This intermittent shining or blinking can be switched once more to a permanent lighting when the object is again present in the cavity.

Furthermore, an optical display can be advantageous for the heating function, the cooling function, and/or a temperature display, which can optionally disappear as soon as the object is removed from the cavity, which once again can be coupled with a time delay. Furthermore, it can be advisable to largely suppress the visibility of the operating elements as soon as the object is removed from the cavity or as soon as the temperature control element is deactivated, so that the cavity in these cases can then serve as a passive receptacle for objects like beverage containers.

Summarizing the invention, a cover or a diaphragm for a temperature controlled beverage holder is provided, in which capacitive switches, optical displays (illuminated icons and luminous ring), a vessel detection and a temperature display are integrated. In a first operating state, no beverage container is placed in the holder. In this case, no illuminated icon or switch can be seen on the cover. Likewise, the luminous ring is switched off, so that the temperature controllable beverage holder appears like a normal beverage holder without cooling or heating function. That an icon cannot be seen when it is not backlit is also called a “vanishing effect”. Now, if a beverage container is placed in the temperature controllable beverage holder, the vessel detection recognizes that a container is present in the temperature controllable beverage holder and makes sure that the illuminated icons light up on the capacitive switches and the luminous ring in a neutral color (such as white) in order to tell the passenger that he can now make a choice (heating or cooling).

If the passenger now chooses, by simply tapping on the capacitive sensor (touch sensor), the cooling mode, the icon for the heating mode will remain in the neutral color, but the luminous ring and the icon for the cooling mode will light up blue. And equally vice versa. Upon switching from cooling to heating, the lighting likewise switches from cooling (blue) to heating mode (red). The switch from heating to cooling mode is analogous. Before and also during the heating and the cooling, the temperature in the temperature controllable beverage holder is measured by means of a temperature sensor and shown on a LCD display or the like.

Now, if the beverage container is again removed from the temperature controlled beverage holder, the lighting shuts off again and the vanishing effect again occurs.

In the following, sample embodiments shall explain the invention more closely and its benefits with the help of the accompanying figures. The size relations of the individual elements to each other in the figures do not always correspond to the real size relations, since some forms are shown simplified and other forms are represented as enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a vehicle interior with one variant embodiment of a receiving and/or holding device according to the invention for the receiving of beverage cups or similar objects.

FIG. 2 shows in six schematic views (FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, and FIG. 2F) different operating states of the device per FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows two schematic perspective views (FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B) of a module of a cavity arranged beneath a console with integrated temperature control element for its heating or cooling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Identical reference numbers are used for the same or similar working elements of the invention. Moreover, for sake of clarity, reference numbers in the individual figures are only used when necessary for the description of the particular figure. The embodiments shown only constitute examples of how the device or the method according to the invention can be configured and do not constitute any definitive limitation.

The schematic perspective view of FIG. 1 illustrates a typical application possibility for a receiving and/or holding device according to the invention 10, which is part of an interior 12 of a motor vehicle here. The receiving and/or holding device 10 comprises two cavities 14 alongside each other for receiving of objects 16, especially cylindrical ones such as beverage cups 18, bottles, or the like. In order to control the temperature of these objects 16 or beverage cups 18 in a desired manner, the cavities 14, especially in hollow cylindrical or conical shape, are coordinated each time with temperature control elements (not shown), which can be controlled separately for the heating or cooling of the objects 16 or beverage cups 18.

The object 16 or beverage container 18 being temperature controlled can be inserted as needed into each of the two cavities 14 of the device 10 from above and taken out again as needed. Preferably, each of the two cavities 14 can be separately temperature regulated, i.e., either cooled or heated, in order to cool or heat the beverage present in the beverage container 18 as desired during the operation of the motor vehicle. Optionally, luminous icons not shown here more closely can be arranged on the inner envelope surfaces of the cavities 14, which can preferably shine in different colors, e.g., red for a heating mode of the left cavity 14 and blue for a cooling mode of the right cavity 14, or vice versa. The luminous icons can be designed, e.g., as luminous rings at the edge of the cavities 14, so that they are substantially only visible when no object 16 is present in the particular cavity 14.

Advantageously, moreover, there can be variant embodiments in which each cavity 14 is fashioned as a conical cup slightly tapering downward to a flat bottom, with a flat annular upper collar, where the collar can optionally extend around both cavities 14 situated alongside each other and join them together. Furthermore, depending on the design, an encircling illuminated ring or a suitable luminous element can be placed beneath the collar of the particular cavity 14, whose light emission will be visible beneath the collar of the cavity 14 when an opening in the console 20 in which the pair of cups with the cavities 14 is installed (for the console 20 in the interior 12 of the motor vehicle, see FIG. 1) is slightly conically recessed at its periphery, so that a gap encircling the cavities 14 can be formed in the console 20, from which the light emitted by the illuminated ring can emerge.

Optionally, the described illuminated ring or luminous element, though not shown here, can also be placed above the collar of the pair of cups or cavities 14, so that the light emitted by the ring will be visible above the collar. The opening in the console 20 beneath which the cups of the particular cavity 14 are arranged, being somewhat smaller than the slightly conical collar extending downward, forms a gap encircling the cavities 14 between the collar and the opening, from which the light emitted by the illuminated ring can emerge. Both alternative variants described lead to the same result, that the upper edge of the cavity 14 can be illuminated. Thanks to variable color tones of the illuminated ring, e.g., red or blue, the mode of the temperature control element can be indicated. A red luminous ring can thus indicate a heating mode, while a blue luminous ring can indicate a cooling mode. A white luminous ring or no illuminated ring can furthermore indicate that the temperature control element is shut off.

Furthermore, other variants of the light design in the illumination of the cavities 14 and of the identification of the different operating modes of the temperature control elements associated with the cavities 14, but not shown here, are conceivable. The two cavities 14 of the receiving and/or holding device 10 shown in FIG. 1, arranged next to each other at a slight spacing, are each situated in the console 20, so that their lengthwise dimension directions run roughly perpendicular to the surface of the console. A cylindrical or slightly conical object 16 or beverage cup 18 can be placed upright in the cavities 14, according to FIG. 1. Optionally, the cavities 14 can be joined by a recessed connection groove, which can have roughly half the depth of the cavities 14 in relation to the console surface, which will be done primarily for optical or stylistic reasons.

An optional illumination of the cavities 14 can be provided at their upper edge, yet still in the area of their inner envelope surfaces, and not at the upper edge of the console 20 itself. Such an illumination shines mostly on the outer envelope surfaces of the objects 16 present in the cavities 14 and thus constitutes an indirect lighting or indication of the particular selected operating mode of the cavities 14, as long as an object 16 is received in the particular cavity 14. If the object 16 is taken out, on the other hand, this kind of lighting is clearly and directly noticeable. As mentioned above, the color and/or intensity of the lighting may vary with the different operating modes of the temperature control elements. Thus, e.g., the left cavity 14 can shine red in a heating mode, while the right cavity 14 can shine blue in a cooling mode.

A further variant can comprise lighting fields located on either side of the recessed connection groove and/or in areas between the two spaced-apart cavities 14. These lighting fields are associated with the cavities 14 and located in the surface of the console 20, so that they constitute a direct lighting or indication of the particular selected operating mode of the cavities 14, regardless of whether an object 16 is received in the respective cavity 14 or not. As mentioned above, the color and/or intensity of the lighting fields can vary with the different operating modes of the temperature control elements. Thus, e.g., the at least one lighting field, situated to the right of the left cavity 14, can shine red in a heating mode, while the lighting field situated to the left of the right cavity 14 can shine blue in a cooling mode.

Optionally, the front regions of illumination rings directed toward the driver can be broadened and provided with additional icons for a heating or cooling function, which can provide information in addition to the lighting color or in place of the lighting color as to the particular selected operating mode of the temperature control element associated with the cavity 14.

The described illumination rings each time constitute a direct lighting of indication of the currently selected operating modes of the cavities 14, regardless of whether or not an object 16 is received in the respective cavity 14. This kind of lighting is clearly and directly noticeable whether the object 16 is present in the cavity 14 or taken out from the cavity 14. As mentioned above, the color and/or intensity of the lighting can vary with the different operating modes of the temperature control elements. Thus, e.g., the left or right cavity 14 can shine red in a heating mode, while the right or left cavity 14 can shine blue in a cooling mode.

Of course, both cavities 14 can also be operated in the same mode—heating or cooling—at the same time and accordingly be identified with the same lighting color or lighting means. In a further lighting option, the color intensity and/or the lighting strength can change over the course of time if the object 16 is or has been removed from one of the cavities 14 or both of the cavities 14. Thus, the lighting strength and/or the lighting color when switching on the heating or cooling function for example can follow the ring-shaped path of the illumination ring, starting from the middle region or form the optional connection groove, while the respective color of the illumination ring can continue in clockwise or counterclockwise direction over the path of the illumination ring if the heating function is activated for the particular cavity 14. Likewise, when the heating function is switched off, the lighting color and/or strength can decrease in ring-shaped manner, optionally clockwise or counterclockwise. The same holds for the activation or deactivation of the cooling function, optionally for the left or right cavity 14 or for both cavities 14.

The lighting strength and/or the lighting color can also optionally follow the course of the illumination ring, for example when the heating or cooling function is switched on, starting from the middle area or from the connection groove and moving outward in both directions. Thus, the particular color of the illumination ring can proceed outward along the course of the illumination ring when the heating function is activated for the cavity 14. Furthermore, a different color of the other respective illumination ring can proceed outward along the course of the illumination ring when the cooling function is activated for this cavity 14. Likewise, when the heating or cooling function is switched off, the lighting color and/or strength can decrease in the peripheral direction of one of the illumination rings.

The six schematic representations of FIG. 2 illustrate a sensible operating logic for the handling and control of the temperature control elements of the receiving and/or holding device 10 according to the invention. Thus, FIG. 2A shows a deactivated cavity 14 with no beverage container 16 received therein. Neither a lighting of the cavity 14 nor a visibility of the keypads 22 (FIG. 2B) is provided here. This state can also be called a deactivated standby mode.

The representation of FIG. 2B shows a variant of icons 24 beneath the cavity 14, which can each identify the keypads 22, but which on account of no beverage container 16 in the cavity 14 are not backlit, or at least not in color. Thus, this is also a standby mode in which the temperature control element is not activated.

The representation of FIG. 2C shows a cavity 14 with beverage container 16 present therein. The cavity 14 is still in the standby mode, but the keypads 22 can be dimly visible in order to allow the cavity 14 or its associated temperature control element to be activated if need be. The icons 24 can optionally be backlit white, so that they can be clearly identified for the selection of the different functions of the temperature control element. A left operating field 26 once again has an icon 24 for the cooling function, while the right operating field 26 is associated with the icon 24 for the heating function. FIG. 2D shows the same state with temperature control element not activated, where an illumination ring 28 at the edge of the cavity 14 can shine white, for example.

FIG. 2E shows the cavity 14 with beverage container 16 present therein, where the temperature control element is running in a cooling mode. The illuminated ring 28 around the cavity 14 can shine blue, for example. Furthermore, the left keypad 22 along with the icon 24 for the cooling function can be backlit blue, which optically indicates that the cooling mode is activated. On the other hand, in this representation the right keypad 22 is not backlit, and can therefore remain for the most part not visible in the console 20 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 2F shows the cavity 14 with beverage container 16 located therein, where the temperature control element is running in a heating mode. The illuminated ring 28 around the cavity 14 can shine red or orange. Furthermore, the right keypad 22 along with the corresponding icon 24 for the heating function can be backlit red or orange, which indicates optically that the heating mode is activated. On the other hand, in this representation the left keypad 22 is not backlit, and can therefore remain for the most part not visible in the console 20 (see FIG. 1).

With the help of the schematic representation of FIG. 2, different variants of the device 10 according to the invention are illustrated, being outfitted with operating elements 26 arranged in physical proximity to the cavity 14 for the activation, deactivation and/or control of the heating function or cooling function of the temperature control elements associated with the cavities 14. As can be seen from FIG. 2A to 2F, the operating elements 26 are formed each time by keypads 22, having an optical highlighting and identification as soon as an object 16 is received in the cavity 14 and/or as soon as the temperature control element is activated. Thus, the operating elements 26 for each cavity 14 are formed by two backlit keypads 22 each time, which are furthermore identified with icons 24 for better indication of the activation option of the functions of the temperature control element, where one of the keypads 22 can activate a heating function, while the other keypad can activate a cooling function. In the sample embodiment shown, the right keypad 22 serves to activate the heating function and is marked by a corresponding icon 24 (three wavy arrows pointing toward the cavity, alongside a stylized cup), which can be backlit red or orange. On the other hand, the left keypad 22 serves to activate the cooling function and is marked by a corresponding icon 24 (a stylized ice crystal, alongside a stylized cup), which can be backlit blue.

The keypads 22 at each cavity 14 are preferably formed each time by backlit, touch sensitive areas, especially by capacitive proximity switches or such as work with optical sensors. Thus, additional keypads can also be provided for variation of the cooling or heating, being marked for example by a plus sign or a minus sign. The symbology 24 on the keypads 22 and their functions can be the same as that already described above or different, as desired.

A further variant of the device 10 according to the invention, not indicated more closely here, can have an additional temperature display associated with the cavities 14, their lighting means and/or the operating elements 26. This can be a digit display, a progress meter, or the like. Since the exact temperature values are not needed in many application instances, it can also be enough to identify the selected temperature with colored bars, with colored rings around the cavity 14, and so on. An identifying color blue or red can shine more intensely with increasing activation of the cooling function or the heating function, relaying to the user the normally required information.

FIGS. 3A and 3B finally show schematic perspective views of a module 30 for a single cavity 14, which is outfitted with an integrated temperature control element 32. Such a module 14 can be installed individually or paired beneath the console 20 (see FIG. 1). In the area of the inner envelope surface of the cavity 14 one notices spring-loaded clamping levers 34 (see FIG. 3B), which serve to secure an object 16 or beverage cup 18 located in the cavity 14 and prevent it from tipping over, especially if it is somewhat smaller than the cup receiving opening of the cavity 14. These clamping levers 34 can optionally be present in each of the described variants of the receiving and/or holding device 10 according to the invention.

It should be mentioned as a further option of the receiving and/or holding device 10 according to the invention that it may be advisable to deactivate the described and illustrated functions, color tones, lighting effects, etc., when the object 16 or beverage container 18 is removed, preferably providing a time delay sufficient to remove the container 18 for drinking and then replace it after a short time. On the other hand, if the container 18 or object 16 is removed for a longer time, it is advisable to deactivate the heating or cooling function permanently, switch off the colored rings, and make the backlit or otherwise identified operating fields 26 disappear visually.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is understandable to the skilled person that modifications or changes can be made to the invention without thereby leaving the scope of protection of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 receiving device, holding device, receiving and/or holding device, device

12 interior, vehicle interior

14 cavity, receiving cavity

16 object

18 beverage container, beverage cup

20 console

22 keypad, push button

24 icon

26 operating element

28 luminous ring

30 module (cavity)

32 temperature control element

34 clamping element, clamping lever

Claims

1. A temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device comprising: a. at least one temperature control element for the heating and/or cooling of at least one cavity as well as an object received therein, andb. at least one operating element situated in physical proximity to the at least one cavity for the activating, deactivating, and/or controlling of a heating function or a cooling function of the at least one temperature control element, which operating element especially with the temperature control element activated and/or the object received in the cavity is optically highlighted and/or identified in an operating console of a vehicle interior;wherein the temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device receives an object, and the temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device is part of a vehicle interior, with the at least one cavity for receiving of the object.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the operating element is formed by at least one switch or at least one keypad, having an optical highlighting or identification as soon as an object is received in the cavity and/or as soon as the temperature control element is activated.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the operating element is formed by at least one backlit push button or one backlit keypad.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one operating element is formed by a capacitive switch or push button, which is sensitive to the proximity of a human finger and/or is coordinated with the proximity sensor.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one operating element is coordinated with an optical sensor for the detecting of hand and/or finger movements, whose signals furnish control information for the temperature control element.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity for the receiving of the object, which is a beverage container, a bottle or the like, has a hollow cylindrical or conical shape at least in one section.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity is coordinated with lighting means to generate emissions of colored light and/or to generate different color tones and/or lighting intensities when an object is received in the cavity.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one cavity is coordinated with a luminous ring in the area of its upper edge.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one operating element is coordinated with lighting means to create colored light emissions and/or to create different color tones and/or lighting intensities when an object is received in the cavity and/or when the temperature control element is activated.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein an additional temperature display is coordinated with the at least one cavity, its lighting means and/or the at least one operating element.

11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the operating element is formed by at least one backlit push button or one backlit keypad.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one operating element is formed by a capacitive switch or push button, which is sensitive to the proximity of a human finger and/or is coordinated with the proximity sensor.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one operating element is coordinated with an optical sensor for the detecting of hand and/or finger movements, whose signals furnish control information for the temperature control element.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one cavity for the receiving of the object, which is a beverage container, a bottle or the like, has a hollow cylindrical or conical shape at least in one section.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one cavity is coordinated with lighting means to generate emissions of colored light and/or to generate different color tones and/or lighting intensities when an object is received in the cavity.

16. A method for the control and/or for the operation of a temperature controllable receiving and/or holding device for an object such as a beverage container, which is part of a vehicle interior and which is outfitted with at least one cavity for the receiving of a beverage cup or a bottle or the like, wherein a temperature control element for the heating and/or the cooling of the cavity can be activated by an operating element disposed in physical proximity to the cavity when subjected to an object received therein.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein a heating function or a cooling function of the temperature control element can be activated by means of the operating element as soon as an object is present in the cavity.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the temperature control element shuts off as soon as the object is removed from the cavity.

19. The method according to claims 16, wherein optical displays for the heating function, the cooling function, and/or a temperature display disappear as soon as the object is removed from the cavity.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the visibility of the operating elements is largely suppressed as soon as the object is removed from the cavity.