Abstract:
Bimodal illumination for vehicular storage compartment utilizes two or more light sources for illuminating the storage compartment, a removable divider to establish two or more sub-compartments when the divider is inserted into the storage compartment, and a switch for selectively turning on and off one or more of the light sources. The switch is opened and closed by the presence of the removable divider in the storage compartment.

Description:
This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/171,590, filed Apr. 22, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the art of illumination, and more particularly to illuminating a storage compartment in a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vehicular storage compartments are routinely present in vehicles and utilized for a variety of purposes. 
     It may be desirable for a vehicular storage compartment to be utilized for multiple purposes. A removable divider may be provided so that the storage compartment can be compartmentalized into smaller storage spaces. For instance, an appropriately shaped divider may be provided to snugly hold two cups in a single storage space, and that divider may be readily removed to utilize the storage space for other purposes. 
     It is desirable to illuminate such a compartmentalized storage space in conformity to its use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a vehicular storage compartment is provided which includes two or more light sources for illuminating the storage compartment. A removable divider establishes two or more sub-compartments when the divider is inserted into the storage compartment. A switch selectively turns on and off one or more of the light sources, the switch being opened and closed by the presence of the removable divider in the storage compartment. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, which is particularly suited to a storage space that comes with a divider suited to hold cups, when the divider is not in place, the light source for the storage space is hidden from view. When the divider is installed, the lighting changes to illuminate the divider from inside the storage space. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will be understood by way of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic plan diagram of a vehicular storage compartment having a removable divider installed therein; 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic plan diagram of a vehicular storage compartment without the removable divider; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view along a wall of the storage compartment where a light source is installed; 
         FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram for controlling the light sources; and 
         FIG. 4  is a wiring diagram for packaging circuit shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1A  is a schematic plan view showing a vehicular storage compartment  10  that can be compartmentalized into smaller sub-compartments  10 A and  10 B via a removable divider  12 . In the illustration the compartment  10  is a relatively small storage space sized to hold the bases of two cups. The storage compartment  10  may be located in a variety of different areas in the vehicle. For instance, the storage compartment  10  may be located in a center console area between two seats, or on the side of the vehicle adjacent to a door or side window or wall. 
     It is desirable to illuminate the storage compartment  10  in conformance with its use. For example the storage compartment  10  may hold one or more cups when the divider  12  is installed, or may be used to store other items when the divider  12  is removed as shown in  FIG. 1B . In the former case, when the divider  12  is installed, it is desired to illuminate the divider  12  from inside the storage compartment  10 . In the latter case, when the divider  12  is removed, it is desirable to eliminate any glare from the light sources from the view of the occupants, especially if the storage compartment  10  is located near the driver. In particular, if the light sources that illuminate the divider when it is present were active, these light sources would create unwanted distraction to the occupants. 
     To achieve the different modes of illumination, the storage compartment  10  is equipped with three light sources  16 A,  16 B and  18 . Two of these light sources  16 A,  16 B are disposed on or adjacent opposing sidewalls  21 ,  22  of the storage compartment, at a location at or near the installation position of the divider  12 . The third light source  18  is disposed on another sidewall  24  preferably located between the opposing sidewalls  21 ,  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the storage compartment  10  is located between driver and passenger front seats  26 ,  28 , and the wall  24  is the rearward-most wall relative to the front of the vehicle. 
     Referring additionally to the partial cross-sectional view  FIG. 2 , the light sources are preferably light emitting diodes (LEDs)  29  mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB)  30  or other substrate disposed behind the corresponding sidewall of the storage compartment. The PCB  30  or other substrate is preferably mounted to the storage compartment sidewall via double sided tape  31 , but it will be understood that there are many other suitable automotive adhesives or fasteners that may be employed. An opening or aperture  32  is formed in the sidewall and a transparent or translucent aperture cover  34  is installed in or about the aperture  32  to permit the passage of light into the storage compartment  10 . The aperture cover  34  may have optical properties as known in the art per se to direct or distribute the light within the storage compartment  10 . For instance, the aperture cover  34  may be a combination diffuser and fresnel lens to evenly illuminate and direct the light as desired. 
     The PCB  30  is preferably small in size and mounted to one of the sidewalls  21 ,  22 . In order to bring power to the LEDs that are not directly mounted to the rigid PCB  30 , a flexible extension such as a ribbon  36  ( FIG. 1A ) is connected to the PCB  30  and is wrapped around a portion of the outer periphery of the storage compartment  10 . The other LEDs are mounted to the ribbon  36  and installed in the sidewall aperture  32 . The ribbon  36  electrically connects the LEDs mounted thereon to the PCB. 
     Thus, no unsightly features are present in the interior of the storage compartment to obstruct the view of the lighting. 
     In the preferred embodiment the divider  12  includes a magnet  40  that activates a reed switch  42  ( FIG. 3 ) mounted on the PCB  30 . The PCB includes circuitry that activates the third light source  18  (at the rear of the storage compartment) when divider  12  is removed: As the rearward, third light source  18  directs light forwardly to illuminate the storage compartment, the resultant illumination will not distract the occupants, and in particular the driver and passenger are spared the direct glare from the LED or other light generating element of the third light source  18 . When the divider  12  in placed in position, the rearward, third light source  18  is deactivated, and the two opposing light sources  16 A,  16 B on each side of the divider  12  are activated, illuminating the divider  12 . The divider is preferably semi-opaque, thus providing a glow effect. 
       FIG. 3  shows a preferred circuit for controlling the light sources. Vcc is a 12 volt park lamp, head lamp or backlighting feed. The reed switch  42  (S 1 ) is normally open, so when Vcc is applied, the rear, third light source  18  (D 11 ) is activated. When the magnet  40  (L 1 ) is brought into close proximity with the reed switch  42  (S 1 ), the rear, third light source  18  (D 11 ) is shorted by diode D 4  and Vcc is applied to the two opposing light sources  16 A,  16 B (D 12  and D 13 ). 
       FIG. 4  shows an electrical packaging schematic for the system. Connectors  44  interconnect the PCB  30  with the vehicular accessory wiring harness that supplies Vcc. Connectors  46  interconnect the PCB  30  with the ribbon  36 . 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the circuitry has no physical electrical connection to the divider  12 , or mechanical connection that would activate a switch mechanically. In an alternate embodiment, a mechanical switch could be used to perform the necessary tasks, but that is less desirable because it creates a potential leak path for liquids to reach the electrical components. 
     While the above describes a particular embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations may be made to the detailed embodiment(s) described herein without departing from the spirit of the invention.