Smart lid

• US 6,271,753 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2000
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kavita M. Shukla
• Original Assignee: Kavita M. Shukla
• Inventors: Shukla, Kavita M
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US09/531,878
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545.6, 340/572.7, 340/571, 340/572.8, 116/72, 116/99, 206/459, 206/807, 215/201
• US Class Current: 340/545.6
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/028 initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by the presence or absence of an audible or electrical signal

Abstract

The invention comprises a lid or cover closing the top of a container or bottle, where the cover contains a built-in device that alerts the user when the container is opened or its content is leaking and will emit an alarm so that the user can respond and perform a subsequent action such as closing the container or bottle.

Claims

1. An alarm cap used as a cover for covering the opening of a container or bottle comprising, a device assembly having a switch for detecting removal of said cap from said container or bottle, a sensor for sensing escaping of the content of said container or bottle into the external environment, and an alarm device that transmits a signal to a remote location when either said switch or said sensor is activated.

2. An alarm cap as in claim 1, further including a receiver at said remote location for receiving said transmitted signal.

3. An alarm cap as in claim 1 or 2, where said alarm device is comprised of circuitry for activating an alarm when said cover is removed from said container or bottle.

4. An alarm cap as in claim 3, wherein said switch is selected from at least one of a group consisting of a tilt switch, magnetic switch, light switch and level switch.

5. An alarm cap as in claim 1 or 2, where said device assembly is attached to said cap either permanently or temporarily.

6. An alarm cap as in claim 1 or 2, where said device assembly is attached to said cover such that said device assembly is removable for placement on a different cover.

7. An alarm cap as in claim 1 or 2, wherein said alarm device comprises a frequency generator.

8. An alarm cap as in claim 7, wherein said frequency generator is selected from at least one of a group consisting of light, infrared light, radio frequency, ultra sound, sound and 900 mega hertz range generator.

9. An alarm cap as in claim 1 or 2, where said sensor is selected from at least one of a group consisting of smoke detectors, wetness sensors, gas sensors and temperature sensors.

10. An alarm cap as in claim 1 or 2, where said signal is transmitted wirelessly to a receiver.

11. An alarm cap as in claim 10, where said receiver is capable of being positioned at any location and where said receiver is able to transmit a signal or perform an action.

12. An alarm cap as in claim 1 or 2, where said alarm device contains a frequency transponder without a battery to transmit said signal to said receiver.

13. An alarm cap as in claim 1 or 2, where said alarm device contains an inductive coil without a battery to transmit said signal to said receiver.