Container with means for displaying still and moving images

• US 6,084,526 A
• Filed: 05/12/1999
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warner Bros Entertainment Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Company LP (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dargan, John H., Blotky, Randolph M., Thagard, Gregory B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/310,426
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 340/691.6, 340/691.1, 340/692, 340/693.8, 340/691.2, 340/691.4, 340/815.53, 340/815.66, 340/815.73, 340/384.7, 340/815.69, 206/459.1, 220/737, 229/89
• US Class Current: 340/691.6
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/02 of curved cross-section, e.g. cans of circular or elliptical cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/12 Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

A container for a beverage or other foods or household goods includes a wall with a display generating digital images. A controller is also provided associated with a memory, said memory storing digital imaging data. The controller selectively retrieves the data from the memory and generates electrical signals to the display. Switches, sensors and other selector elements may be provided to activate the display and to select the images to be shown. Additionally miniature speakers may also be provided which cooperate with the display to show multimedia presentations.

Claims

1. A beverage container comprising:

a body for holding liquid beverage defined by a tubular sidewall and two end walls to form a sealed enclosure;

a sleeve disposed about said sidewall, said sleeve including a display;

a memory storing imaging data; and

a controller coupled to said memory and said display, said controller being arranged to selectively retrieve said imaging data from said memory and to generate signals for said display to cause said display to show images corresponding to said imaging data.

2. The container of claim 1 further comprising a sensor coupled to said controller and provided to sense a predetermined condition, said controller being arranged to transmit said signals in the presence of said condition.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein said sensor is responsive to the presence of ambient light.

4. The container of claim 2 wherein said sensor comprises a manual switch.

5. The container of claim 2 wherein said sensor is responsive to the opening of said enclosure.

6. A household product container comprising:

a housing arranged to form a sealed enclosure for holding household product, said housing including at least a sidewall;

a display supported on said sidewall and responsive to electrical signals to generate an image;

a memory storing digital imaging data; and

a controller coupled to said memory and said display to selectively retrieve said imaging data and to generate said electrical signals.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein said display is made of a flexible material to conform to the shape of said sidewall.

8. The container of claim 6 wherein said sidewall has a curved shape and said display conforms to said curved shape.

9. The container of claim 6 wherein said display comprises a light emitting polymer material.

10. The container of claim 6 further comprising a sound reproducing element supported on said housing and coupled to said controller, said sound reproducing element and said display cooperating to produce a multimedia presentation formed of still or moving images and sounds.

11. The container of claim 6 further comprising a sensor mounted on said housing, said sensor being arranged to sense a predetermined condition and to provide a corresponding indication to said controller, said controller being responsive to said indication when generating said electrical signals.

12. The container of claim 11 wherein said sensor generates an indication indicative of the presence or absence of light.

13. The container of claim 11 wherein said sensor includes a manual switch.

14. The container of claim 11 wherein said sensor is responsive to the opening of said enclosure.

15. The container of claim 6 wherein said imaging data defines a plurality of presentations, each presentation being defined by one or more images, further comprising a selector for selecting one of said presentations, said selector generating a selector signal, wherein said controller is coupled to said selector and retrieves the data corresponding to said selector signal.

16. The container of claim 6 further comprising a battery generating power for said controller and said display.