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.

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, 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.   
     
     
         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.