Portable heated cup with motion sensor and timer

• US 6,013,901 A
• Filed: 09/18/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Manon Lavoie
• Original Assignee: Manon Lavoie
• Inventors: Lavoie, Manon
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeffery, John A.
• Application Number:
  US08/933,172
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 219/441, 219/429, 219/386, 219/387, 219/433, 219/438, 219/518, 219/250, 219/251, 219/252, 219/435, 219/432, 220/703
• US Class Current: 219/435
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2227 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2288 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/18 Time
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2466 with integral heating means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0225 actuated by timers

Abstract

A heated container includes a cup with a heating coil for heating the cup upon the receipt of power. Further included is a timer that is adapted to transmit an activation signal for a predetermined amount of time upon at least the instantaneous receipt thereof. Connected to the timer is a motion sensor for transmitting the activation signal thereto upon the detection of movement of the base and cup. A relay is connected between the timer, heating coil and a battery. The relay is adapted to allow the transmission of power from the battery to the heating coil only during the receipt of the activation signal.

Claims

1. A heated container comprising:

a container with a lower periphery having a plurality of threaded grooves formed in an outer surface thereof;

a base defined by a bottom face, a top face, and a periphery formed therebetween defining an interior space, the base further including an lip integrally formed about a periphery of the top face of the base and extending upwardly therefrom in coaxial alignment with the periphery of the base with a plurality of threaded grooves formed in an inner surface of the lip for engaging the threaded grooves of the container;

a heating coil mounted within the lip and the top face of the base for heating the container upon the receipt of power and the engagement of the base with the cup for heating the container upon the receipt of power;

timer means adapted to transmit an activation signal for an amount of time upon at least the instantaneous receipt of the activation signal;

motion sensor means connected to the timer means for transmitting the activation signal thereto upon the detection of movement of the base and container;

relay means connected between the timer means, heating coil and a battery, the relay means adapted to allow the transmission of power from the battery to the heating coil only during the receipt of the activation signal.

2. A heated container as set forth in claim 1 and further including thermostat means connected between the battery and the heating coil for precluding the transfer of power to the heating coil only upon a temperature detected being greater than or equal to a first user selected temperature.

3. A heated container as set forth in claim 1 and further including high temperature cut off means connected between the relay means and the heating coil for precluding the transfer of power to the heating coil only upon a temperature detected being greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature.

4. A heated container as set forth in claim 1 and further including a manual switch connected between the battery and the heating coil for allowing the transfer of power thereto only upon the manual closing thereof.

5. A heated container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container includes a cup with a handle.

6. A heated container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the timer means, motion sensor means, relay means, and heating coil are situated within the base.

7. A heated container comprising, in combination:

a cup having a cylindrical configuration with a circular bottom face and a periphery integrally coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom to define an interior space and an open top for receiving a fluid, the periphery of the cup having threaded grooves formed in an outer surface thereof adjacent the bottom face of the cup, the cup including a closed loop handle integrally coupled to a central extent of the periphery thereof and extending outwardly therefrom for gripping purposes, wherein the threaded grooves of the cup cover at least 5% of the periphery of the cup;

a base defined by a circular bottom face, a circular top face, and a periphery formed therebetween defining an interior space, the base further including an annular lip integrally formed about a periphery of the top face of the base and extending upwardly therefrom in coaxial alignment with the periphery of the base with a plurality of threaded grooves formed in an inner surface of the annular lip for engaging the threaded grooves of the cup such that the outer surface of the cup is contiguous with an outer surface of the annular lip of the base;

a heating coil mounted within the annular lip and the top face of the base for heating the cup upon the receipt of power and the engagement of the base with the cup;

timer means situated within the interior space of the base and adapted to transmit an activation signal for approximately 30 minutes upon at least the instantaneous receipt thereof;

a motion sensor situated within the interior space of the base and connected to the timer means for transmitting the activation signal thereto upon the detection of movement of the base and cup;

a tilt switch situated within the interior space of the base and connected to the timer means for transmitting the activation signal thereto upon the detection of the tilting of the base and cup, wherein the tilt switch is connected in parallel with the motion sensor;

relay means situated within the interior space of the base and connected between the timer means, heating coil and a battery, the relay means adapted to allow the transmission of power from the battery to the heating coil only during the receipt of the activation signal;

thermostat means situated within the interior space of the base and connected between the relay means and the heating coil for precluding the transfer of power to the heating coil only upon a temperature detected being greater than or equal to a first user selected temperature, wherein a dial is included for selection of the first user selected temperature;

high temperature cut off means situated within the interior space of the base and connected between the relay means and the heating coil for precluding the transfer of power to the heating coil only upon a temperature detected being greater than or equal to a second predetermined temperature; and

a manual switch mounted on the outer surface of the periphery of the base and connected between the battery and the heating coil for allowing the transfer of power thereto only upon the manual closing thereof.