Foodware System Having Sensory Stimulating, Sensing And/Or Data Processing Components

• US 20080019122A1
• Filed: 10/22/2005
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illumidine, Inc.
• Original Assignee: James Kramer
• Inventors: Kramer, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/154
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/025 with means for amusing or giving information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2227 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/2238 with illumination means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/2244 with sound emitting means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/225 vessels with thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/00 Table-ware crumb trays A47L13/52; table knives B26B
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/023 Forks; Forks with ejectors
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/04 Spoons; Pastry servers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0306 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0309 Illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/28 Other culinary hand implements, e.g. spatulas, pincers, forks or like food holders, ladles, skimming ladles, cooking spoons; Spoon-holders attached to cooking pots
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/22 Weigh pans or other weighing receptacles; Weighing platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/84 Measuring functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Active foodware system comprises at least a dining plate unit that provides visual stimuli by having a power source and a visual sensory stimulating component to provide light emanating from the dining plate. Other devices can provide auditory and haptic stimuli. The dining plate unit can be a single component where the device and circuitry are all contained in the unit and protected from water or can be two components: an upper translucent dining plate and an underplate comprising the devices and circuitry for directing light through the upper translucent dining plate.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. An active foodware system comprising a:

dining surface supported by a dining plate, said dining surface being recessed in relation to a region surrounding said dining surface, said dining surface recessed for receiving food and preventing spillage from said dining surface, said active foodware system optionally including an underplate, and either

(A) further comprising at least one of;

(i) a stimulating component for visual, audio or tactile stimulation to produce a sensory signal from said dining plate or said underplate; and

(ii) a sensing component, wherein when said sensing component senses the weight of said food, said stimulating component provides stimulation related to consumption of said food other than units of weight, and wherein said plate or underplate comprises said sensing component; and

optionally further comprising a processor component being in proximity to said dining surface,

wherein said stimulating and sensing components are electrically activated and have means for connecting to an electrical;

power source or said processor;

or

(B) (i) an adjustable support structure; and

(ii) a dining platform at least substantially horizontal for supporting said dining surface in a raised position to provide a space for a keyboard to be positioned at least partially under said dining platform, said horizontal dining platform operably connected to said adjustable support structure,

at least a portion of said dining platform being translucent for viewing at least a portion of the keyboard during dining;

or

(C) (i) a processor component contained in said dining plate, said processor component capable of sending data; and

(ii) an electrical power source for providing electrical power to said processor component.

70. A method employing an active foodware system according to claim 41 comprising a processor and employing computer memory external to said active foodware system, said method comprising:

transferring data from said computer memory to said processor; and

processing said data for activating said stimulating component.

71. A method according to claim 70, comprising the additional steps of:

presenting food on said dining surface to a diner; and

activating said stimulating component to provide stimulation during consumption of said food.

72. A method according to claim 71 comprising:

sensing the weight of said food on said dining surface; and

presenting visual or auditory stimuli in relation to said consumption.

73. Method for presenting food employing at least one active foodware system according to claim 41, wherein each said dining plate has (a) a dining portion, (b) an information portion or (c) both a dining portion and an information portion, wherein said underplate can provide said information portion, at least one of said portions providing a stimulating component, said method comprising:

running a computer program with instructions for selecting at least one active foodware system;

transmitting data to said at least one active foodware system having a receiver for receiving and storing said data; and

operating on said data by said at least one active foodware system to activate said stimulating component.

74. A method according to claim 73, wherein said stimulating component is for visual stimulation, and said information portion has a plurality of regions.

75. A method according to claim 73, wherein there are multiple active foodware systems, said stimulating component is for visual stimulation, and different data are transmitted to at least two active foodware systems.

42. An active foodware system comprising a dining surface supported by a dining plate, said dining surface being recessed in relation to a region surrounding said dining surface, said dining surface recessed for receiving food and preventing spillage from said dining surface, said active foodware system optionally including an underplate, and further comprising at least one of:

(a) a stimulating component for visual, audio or tactile stimulation to produce a sensory signal from said dining plate or said underplate; and

(b) a sensing component, wherein when said sensing component senses the weight of said food, said stimulating component provides stimulation related to consumption of said food other than units of weight and wherein said plate or underplate comprises said sensing component; and

optionally further comprising a processor component being in proximity to said dining surface,

wherein said stimulating and sensing components are electrically activated and have means for connecting to an electrical power source or said processor.

43. An active foodware system according to claim 42, wherein said active foodware system comprises (a).

44. An active foodware system according to claim 43, wherein said stimulating component is for visual stimulation.

45. An active foodware system according to claim 43, wherein said stimulating component is for audio stimulation.

46. An active foodware system according to claim 43, wherein said stimulating component is for tactile stimulation.

47. An active foodware system according to claim 44, wherein said stimulating component is received in or attached to one of said dining plate or said underplate, and includes at least one light source selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes (LEDs), optical wave guides, electroluminescent light sources, liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, fluorescent displays, plasma displays, incandescent lights, fluorescent lights and fluorescent materials.

48. An active foodware system according to claim 44, where in the event that said stimulating component is other than a software controlled graphical display

(a) said stimulating component for visual stimulation has a plurality of sites that emit light that produces other than a single simple geometric form, or

(b) said stimulating component for visual stimulation is sealed in a structure associated with said dining surface.

49. An active foodware system according to claim 43 comprising a first processor having a processor-readable program for controlling interaction with said stimulating component.

50. An active foodware system according to claim 49 comprising a second processor having a processor-readable program for transmitting data to said first processor.

51. An active foodware system according to claim 49, wherein said stimulating component is for visual stimulation.

52. An active foodware system according to claim 44, wherein said stimulating component comprises a liquid crystal display.

53. An active foodware system according to claim 49, wherein said stimulating component is for audio stimulation.

54. An active foodware system according to claim 49, wherein said stimulating component is for tactile stimulation.

55. An active foodware system according to claim 42, wherein said active foodware system comprises said sensing component.

56. An active foodware system according to claim 55, said sensing component senses at least one of:

(a) food on said dining surface by receiving signals from said dining plate or said underplate;

(b) a diner; and

(c) a member of a place setting.

57. An active foodware system according to claim 55, wherein said sensing component senses a characteristic of said food.

58. An active foodware system according to claim 57, wherein said sensing component electronically senses weight or position of said food.

59. An active foodware system according to claim 58 comprising a mechanical structure for supporting said dining plate, said mechanical structure comprising said sensing component electronically sensing weight and positioned under said dining plate, means for transmitting a signal from said sensing component to a processor for controlling an image on a visual display in response to said signal from said sensing component, and said mechanical structure has a space for receiving said visual display and permits viewing of said visual display.

60. An active foodware system according to claim 59, wherein said visual display is a liquid crystal display.

61. An active foodware system according to claim 55 comprising a first processor having a first processor-readable program for controlling interaction with said sensing component.

62. An active foodware system according to claim 61 further comprising a stimulating component for visual stimulation, wherein said first processor receives a first signal from said sensing component and transmits a second signal to said stimulating component for visual or audio stimulation.

63. An active foodware system according to claim 62, wherein said sensing component electronically senses weight of said food, and said first processor-readable program modifies said stimulating component for visual stimulation in response to said sensing component.

64. An active foodware system according to claim 61 further comprising (a) a stimulating component for visual stimulation and (b) a second processor having a second processor-readable program for controlling interaction with said stimulating component, said second processor communicating with said first processor.

65. An active foodware system according to claim 64, further comprising a mechanical structure supporting said dining plate, said first processor connected to said mechanical structure, and said mechanical structure comprising a space for receiving said second processor.

66. An active foodware system comprising:

(a) a dining surface supported by a dining plate, said dining surface being recessed in relation to a region surrounding said dining surface, said dining surface recessed for receiving food and preventing spillage from said dining surface, said active foodware system optionally including an underplate;

(b) an adjustable support structure; and

(c) a dining platform at least substantially horizontal for supporting said dining surface in a raised position to provide a space for a keyboard to be positioned at least partially under said dining platform, said horizontal dining platform operably connected to said adjustable support structure,

at least a portion of said dining platform being translucent for viewing at least a portion of the keyboard during dining.

67. An active foodware system according to claim 66, wherein said dining platform has a space underneath for separably receiving a processor module.

68. An active foodware system comprising a mechanical structure for receiving a processor module, said mechanical structure comprising:

(a) a dining plate support for a dining plate, said dining plate support or said dining plate capable of sensing an attribute of food on said dining plate and producing a signal related to said attribute, and

(b) means for communicating said signal to said processor module,

said mechanical structure or said processor module comprising a stimulating component for visual stimulation, wherein when said attribute is weight of said food, said stimulating component provides stimulation related to consumption of said food other than units of weight.

69. An active foodware system according to claim 68, wherein said mechanical structure has a transparent shield over said display.

76. A dining plate unit comprising:

a dining plate and optionally an underplate;

a power source;

said dining plate or said underplate, comprising at least one light source selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes (LEDs) having light guides, optical wave guides, electroluminescent light sources, liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, fluorescent displays, plasma displays, incandescent lights having light guides, fluorescent lights and fluorescent materials.

77. A dining plate unit comprising:

a dining plate and optionally an underplate;

a power source;

said dining plate or said underplate comprising at least one light source selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes (LEDs), optical wave guides, electroluminescent light sources, liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, fluorescent displays, plasma displays, incandescent lights, fluorescent lights and fluorescent materials;

a controller for receiving power from said power source and selectively energizing said at least one light source for enhancing a dining experience, said controller comprising a processor under the surface of said dining plate.

78. An active foodware system comprising:

a dining plate comprising at least one light guide;

an underplate comprising;

(a) at least one stimulating component for visual stimulation attached to said underplate and

(b) means for receiving power for energizing said at least one stimulating component for visual stimulation and generating light;

wherein said dining plate is positioned in relationship to said understate whereby said light is directed to said at least one light guide.

79. An active foodware system according to claim 78 comprising:

(a) a translucent film between said at least one stimulating component for visual stimulation and said at least one light guide and

(b) an actuator moving said translucent film for modifying said light.

80. An active foodware system according to claim 78, wherein said dining plate comprises a cavity, said at least one light guide extending from said cavity, said underplate comprising a protuberance for inserting into said cavity and comprising said at least one stimulating component for visual stimulation in functional relationship to said at least one light guide.

81. A vessel and optionally including a vessel holder, said vessel or vessel holder comprising at least one of:

(a) a stimulating component for visual, audio or tactile stimulation to produce a sensory signal from said vessel or vessel holder,

wherein said tactile stimulation is other than heat, and said stimulating component for visual stimulation;

i) is at least one of the following light sources;

light emitting diodes (LEDs), optical wave guides, electroluminescent light sources, liquid crystal display (LCD) panels displaying other than alphanumeric characters, fluorescent displays, plasma displays, incandescent lights, fluorescent lights and fluorescent materials;

or

(ii) has two immiscible liquids in the wall of said vessel or vessel holder; and

(b) a sensing component for sensing other than temperature and humidity, wherein when said sensing component senses the weight of said food, said stimulating component provides stimulation related to consumption of said food other than units of weight, and wherein said vessel or vessel holder comprises said sensing component,

with the proviso that said LEDs are either energized based on a signal from said sensing component or have light fibers or light tubes; and

optionally further comprising a processor component being in proximity to said vessel or vessel holder,

wherein said stimulating and sensing components are electrically activated and have means for connecting to an electrical power source or said processor.

82. A vessel or vessel holder according to claim 81, wherein said stimulating component is for visual stimulation and displays a changing image.

83. A utensil comprising at least one of:

(a) a stimulating component for visual or tactile stimulation to produce a sensory signal from said utensil, wherein said stimulating component for visual stimulation;

(i) is at least one of the following light sources;

light emitting diodes (LEDs), optical wave guides, electroluminescent light sources, liquid crystal display (LCOD) panels, fluorescent displays, plasma displays, incandescent lights, fluorescent lights and fluorescent materials;

or

(ii) has two immiscible liquids in the utensil; and

(b) a sensing component for sensing, wherein said utensil comprises said sensing component,

with the proviso that said LEDs are either energized based on a signal from said sensing component or have light guides; and

optionally further comprising a processor component being in proximity to said utensil,

wherein said stimulating and sensing components are electrically activated and have means for connecting to an electrical power source or said processor.

84. A utensil according to claim 83, wherein said stimulating component is for visual stimulation and displays a changing image.

85. An active foodware system comprising:

(a) a dining surface supported by a dining plate, said dining surface being recessed in relation to a region surrounding said dining surface, said dining surface recessed for receiving food and preventing spillage from said dining surface, said active foodware system optionally including an underplate;

(b) a processor component contained in said dining plate, said processor component capable of sending data; and

(c) an electrical power source for providing electrical power to said processor component.