Substance communicating device with activatable connector and cycle structure
First Claim
1. A substance communicating device for use in conjunction with an appliance configured to perform a physical cycle of operation on an article using the substance communicating device, the appliance having a first substance service connector component and a first coupling component, the substance communicating device comprising:
- a main body;
one of a substance consumer or a substance provider provided on the main body;
a substance line having a first end coupled with the one of the substance consumer or the substance provider and a second end remote from the first end;
a second substance service connector component provided on the main body and coupled with the second end of the substance line, the second substance service connector component being physically engageable with the first substance service connector component to form a substance pathway for the transfer of a substance between the first and second substance service connector components;
a second coupling component provided on the main body and configured to engage the first coupling component when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the transfer of the substance between the first and second substance service connector components;
one of media, an interface for receiving media, or a media access component provided on the main body for providing information regarding the substance; and
a communication interface provided on the main body for communicating the information to the appliance;
wherein the information communicated by the substance communicating device to the appliance is used by the appliance to affect the physical cycle of operation;
wherein the substance comprises a gas, liquid, or solid material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A substance communicating device for use in conjunction with an appliance or a system including an appliance and a substance communicating device. The substance communicating device has a service connector component operably engageable with a service connector component of the appliance to permit the communication of a substance between the appliance and the substance communicating device. Information related to the substance can be communicated to the appliance and used to affect the physical cycle of operation of the appliance.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A substance communicating device for use in conjunction with an appliance configured to perform a physical cycle of operation on an article using the substance communicating device, the appliance having a first substance service connector component and a first coupling component, the substance communicating device comprising:
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a main body; one of a substance consumer or a substance provider provided on the main body; a substance line having a first end coupled with the one of the substance consumer or the substance provider and a second end remote from the first end; a second substance service connector component provided on the main body and coupled with the second end of the substance line, the second substance service connector component being physically engageable with the first substance service connector component to form a substance pathway for the transfer of a substance between the first and second substance service connector components; a second coupling component provided on the main body and configured to engage the first coupling component when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the transfer of the substance between the first and second substance service connector components; one of media, an interface for receiving media, or a media access component provided on the main body for providing information regarding the substance; and a communication interface provided on the main body for communicating the information to the appliance; wherein the information communicated by the substance communicating device to the appliance is used by the appliance to affect the physical cycle of operation; wherein the substance comprises a gas, liquid, or solid material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A consumable holder for use in conjunction with an appliance configured to perform a physical cycle of operation on an article using the consumable holder to provide at least one consumable, the appliance having a switch operably activated by the consumable holder, the consumable holder comprising:
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a main body; a structure provided on the main body for holding the at least one consumable within the main body; a consumable information holder provided on the main body and comprising information associated with at least one of the article, the physical cycle of operation, or the at least one consumable; and an actuator provided on the main body for operably activating the switch; wherein, when the actuator operably activates the switch, the appliance reads at least a portion of the information from the consumable information holder and uses the information to affect the cycle of operation on the article; wherein the consumable comprises a gas, liquid, or solid material. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification