Multi-function liquid container

• US 20060207986A1
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B2M Asset Management, LLC
• Original Assignee: B2M Asset Management, LLC
• Inventors: Brown, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,706,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/386
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/004 with integral electrical heating means drinking cups with integral heating means A47J36/2466
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/62 by devices for automatically controlling the heat supply by switching off heaters or for automatically lifting the cooking-vessels

Abstract

A container is provided for heating or otherwise processing the contents of the container. For example, the container may be a kettle or kettle for heating fluids therein. The container may receive a command, desired characteristic or desired range for processing the contents of the container. The container may further include at least one sensor such as a temperature sensor or pressure sensor for determining a corresponding characteristic of the contents of the container. Based on at least one determined characteristic and/or the input command, the container may heat or otherwise process the contents therein. The results and/or current status of the contents may further be provided through a display. Also, based on the current status of the contents, the container may further process/heat the contents or discontinue processing/heating of the contents.

Claims

1. A container for heating contents contained in the container, the container comprising:

an input for receiving a command;

a processor for setting a temperature of the contents based on the command received at the input, and an alarm interval

wherein the contents is capable of being heated to the set temperature by an external heat source.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the command is a desired temperature.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the command is a voice command.

4. The container of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the contents.

5. The container of claim 4 further comprising a heating element wherein the command is a desired temperature and the processor controls the heating element based on the temperature of the contents.

6. The container of claim 5 further comprising a power source, the power source providing power to the heating element to heat the contents if the temperature of the contents is less than the desired temperature.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein the processor turns the power source off when the temperature of the contents is greater than the desired temperature.

8. The container of claim 1 further comprising a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the contents, wherein the command comprises a desired pressure and the processor controls the heating element based on the pressure of the contents.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein the pressure sensor comprises a first barometric pressure sensor for measuring the atmospheric pressure and measuring the pressure within the internal cavity.

10. The container of claim 8 wherein the pressure sensor comprises a first barometric pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the internal cavity and a second barometric pressure sensor for measuring the atmospheric pressure.

11. The container of claim 8 further comprising a power source, the power source providing power to the heating element to heat the contents if the pressure of the contents is greater than the desired pressure, otherwise turning the power source off.

12. The container of claim 11 wherein the desired pressure is atmospheric pressure.

13. The container of claim 1 further comprising an output for providing a status of the contents.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein the status is the temperature of the contents and the output is a display for displaying the temperature of the contents.

15. The container of claim 14 further comprising a voice emulator operably connected to the output, wherein the output is a speaker for providing the status of the contents.

16. The container of claim 1 further comprising an RF transmitter for transmitting a signal to a remote device to control the remote device.

17. The container of claim 16 wherein the remote device is the external heat source for providing heat to the container.

18. The container of claim 17 wherein the RF transmitter transmits the signal to turn off the remote device if a temperature of the contents is at least a desired temperature.

19. The container of claim 1 further comprising a battery.

20. The container of claim 1 further comprising an AC power source

21. The container of claim 1 further comprising a heating element, wherein the external heat source is a gas-powered stovetop and the heating element is electrically-powered.

22. The container of claim 1 further comprising a clock.

23. The container of claim 22 wherein the clock is an atomic clock.

24. The container of claim 1 further comprising a heating element for heating the contents and a solar panel operably connected to the heating element for powering the heating element.

48. The container of claim 1 further comprising a solar panel operably connected to the heating element for powering the heating element.

25. A container for heating contents contained in the container, the container comprising:

an input for receiving a command;

a processor for setting a desired temperature of the contents based on the command received at the input and an alarm interval

a heating element for heating the contents to the desired temperature; and

an output for providing a status of the contents.

26. The container of claim 25 wherein the output comprises an alarm.

27. The container of claim 25 further comprising a voice emulator operably connected to the output for providing a voice output.

28. The container of claim 25 wherein the command is a desired temperature.

29. The container of claim 25 wherein the command is a voice command.

30. The container of claim 25 further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the contents.

31. The container of claim 30 further comprising a power source, the power source providing power to the heating element to heat the contents if the temperature of the contents is less than the desired temperature.

32. The container of claim 31 wherein the processor turns the power source off when the temperature of the contents is greater than the desired temperature.

33. The container of claim 25 further comprising a pressure. sensor for detecting the pressure of the contents, wherein the command comprises a desired pressure and the processor controls the heating element based on the pressure of the contents.

34. The container of claim 33 wherein the pressure sensor comprises a first barometric pressure sensor for measuring the atmospheric pressure and measuring the pressure within the internal cavity.

35. The container of claim 33 wherein the pressure sensor comprises a first barometric pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the internal cavity and a second barometric pressure sensor for measuring the atmospheric pressure.

36. The container of claim 33 further comprising a power source, the power source providing power to the heating element to heat the contents if the pressure of the contents is greater than the desired pressure, otherwise turning the power source off.

37. The container of claim 36 wherein the desired pressure is atmospheric pressure.

38. The container of claim 25 wherein the status is the temperature of the contents and the output is a display for displaying the temperature of the contents.

39. The container of claim 38 further comprising a voice emulator operably connected to the output, wherein the output is a speaker for providing the status of the contents based on input from the voice emulator.

40. The container of claim 25 further comprising an RF transmitter for transmitting a signal to a remote device to control the remote device.

41. The container of claim 40 wherein the remote device is an external heat source for providing heat to the container.

42. The container of claim 41 wherein the RF transmitter transmits the signal to turn off the remote device if a temperature of the contents is at least a desired temperature.

43. The container of claim 25 further comprising a battery and an AC power source operably connected to the heating element.

44. The container of claim 25 further comprising an external heat source, wherein the external heat source is a gas-powered stovetop and the heating element is electrically-powered.

45. The container of claim 25 further comprising a clock.

46. The container of claim 45 wherein the clock is an atomic clock.

47. The container of claim 25 containing a rheostat.

49. A gas or electrically-heated container for heating contents contained in the container, the container comprising:

an internal surface forming a concave internal cavity capable of holding the contents;

an outer surface encompassing the internal surface;

an electric heating element interposed between the internal surface and the outer surface;

a power source for providing power to the heating element;

a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the contents;

a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure within the internal cavity;

a motion sensor for sensing motion of the container;

an input for receiving a command, and

a processor for controlling the electric heating element based on the command received at the input and at least one of the temperature of the contents, pressure within the internal cavity, and motion of the container,

wherein the contents is capable of being heated by the electric heating element or an external gas heat source.

50. The container of claim 49 further comprising one of a display, audio indicator and preset controls, wherein the processor sets a desired temperature of the contents, the desired temperature of the contents being selectable.