Heated or cooled dishwasher safe dishware and drinkware

• US 8,759,721 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2013
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ember Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Piatto Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Alexander, Clayton
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US14/144,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20140165607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 176 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 219/432
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/027 with means for keeping food cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2288 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2203/00 Devices having filling level indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21041 with heating elements arranged outside the water vessel A47J27/2105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/2105 of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the water vessel can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21083 with variable operating parameters, e.g. temperature or boiling period
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2483 with electrical heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/025 for warming dishes without food before use
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 29/00 Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/121 characterised by the sensing element

Abstract

An actively heated mug or travel mug is provided. The mug or travel mug can include a body that receives a liquid therein and a heating system at least partially disposed in the body. The heating system can include one or more heating elements that heat a surface of the receiving portion of the body and one or more energy storage devices. The mug or travel mug can include a wireless power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power source and control circuitry configured to charge one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the one or more heating elements. The mug or travel mug also can have one or more sensors that sense a parameter of the liquid or sense a parameter of the heating system and communicates the sensed information to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can turn on, turn off, and/or operate the heating element to actively heat at least a portion of the body to maintain the liquid in a heated state generally at a user selected temperature setting based at least in part on the sensed parameter information. The mug or travel mug can also be paired with a remote device or mobile electronic device to send or receive communications or commands.

Claims

1. An actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container, comprising:

a body having a receiving portion for receiving and holding a liquid; and

a heating or cooling system, comprising

two or more heating or cooling elements configured to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the receiving portion of the body,

control circuitry configured to control the operation of the two or more heating or cooling elements, and

one or more liquid level sensors configured to sense a liquid level in the receiving portion and to communicate the sensed liquid level to the control circuitry,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate each of the two or more heating or cooling elements independently of each other based at least in part on the sensed liquid level such that the control circuitry can turn off or turn on or reduce power to or increase power to at least one of the two or more heating or cooling elements based at least in part on the sensed liquid level, wherein as the sensed liquid level drops below a predetermined level, the control circuitry reduces power to or turns off at least said one of the two or more heating or cooling elements that is at least partially exposed above the liquid level or at least partially out of thermal contact with the liquid due to the drop in liquid level.

2. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 1, wherein the two or more heating or cooling elements are two or more thermoelectric elements, wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate each of the two or more thermoelectric elements independently of each other based at least in part on the sensed liquid level such that the control circuitry can turn off or turn on or reduce power to or increase power to or reverse polarity to at least one of the two or more thermoelectric elements based at least in part on the sensed liquid level.

3. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 1, further comprising a wireless power receiver configured to receive wireless power from a power source and to direct said power to at least the control circuitry or two or more heating or cooling elements.

4. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 1, wherein as the sensed liquid level drops below a predetermined level, the control circuitry turns on power to or raises the power level to at least one of the two or more heating or cooling elements that is submerged below the liquid level or at least partially in thermal contact with the liquid.

5. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 1, further comprising one or more power storage elements configured to at least supply power to the two or more heating or cooling elements.

6. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 1, further comprising a display screen on a surface of the body, the display screen electrically connected to the control circuitry.

7. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter or receiver and/or transceiver configured to establish a communication connection with a remote device or mobile electronic device, the transceiver configured to transmit operation information to the remote device or mobile electronic device as well as to receive instructions from the remote device or mobile electronic device.

8. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry operates the two or more heating or cooling elements to induce circulation of the liquid in the receiving portion to achieve a generally uniform temperature in the volume of liquid in the receiving portion.

9. An actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container, comprising:

a body having a receiving portion for receiving and holding a liquid; and

a heating or cooling system, comprising

two or more heating or cooling elements configured to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the receiving portion of the body, and

control circuitry configured to control the operation of the two or more heating or cooling elements,

wherein the control of or location of the two or more heating or cooling elements is configured to induce a circulation of liquid within the receiving portion of the body to maintain a generally uniform liquid temperature within the volume of liquid in the receiving portion, wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate each of the two or more heating or cooling elements independently of each other based at least in part on a sensed liquid level and wherein as the sensed liquid level drops below a predetermined level, the control circuitry reduces power to or turns off at least said one of the two or more heating or cooling elements that is at least partially exposed above the liquid level or at least partially out of thermal contact with the liquid due to the drop in liquid level.

10. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 9, wherein the two or more heating or cooling elements are two or more thermoelectric elements, wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate each of the two or more thermoelectric elements independently of each other based at least in part on a sensed liquid level such that the control circuitry can turn off or turn on or reduce power to or increase power to or reverse polarity to at least one of the two or more thermoelectric elements based at least in part on the sensed liquid level.

11. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 9, further comprising a wireless power receiver configured to receive wireless power from a power source and to direct said power to at least the control circuitry or two or more heating or cooling elements.

12. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 9, further comprising one or more power storage elements configured to at least supply power to the two or more heating or cooling elements.

13. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 9, further comprising a display screen on a surface of the body, the display screen electrically connected to the control circuitry.

14. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 9, further comprising a wireless transmitter or receiver and/or transceiver configured to establish a communication connection with a remote device or mobile electronic device, the transceiver configured to transmit operation information to the remote device or mobile electronic device as well as to receive instructions from the remote device or mobile electronic device.

15. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 9, wherein as the sensed liquid level drops below a predetermined level, the control circuitry turns on power to or raises the power level to at least one of the two or more heating or cooling elements that is submerged below the liquid level or at least partially in thermal contact with the liquid.

16. An actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe or liquid container, comprising:

a body having a receiving portion for receiving and holding a liquid; and

a heating or cooling system, comprising

two or more heating or cooling elements configured to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the receiving portion of the body,

one or more power storage elements,

a wireless power receiver configured to wirelessly receive power from a power source,

control circuitry electrically connected to the wireless power receiver, the control circuitry configured to control the charging of the one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the two or more heating or cooling elements to maintain a temperature of the liquid at a predetermined drinking temperature or within a predetermined drinking temperature range, and

one or more ultrasound liquid sensors configured to sense a level of the liquid in the receiving portion via a change in frequency and to communicate said sensed level information to the control circuitry,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate the two or more heating or cooling elements independently of each other to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the receiving portion of the body to maintain the temperature of the liquid generally at a user selected or factory preset drinking temperature setting based at least in part on the sensed liquid level, wherein as the sensed liquid level drops below a predetermined level, the control circuitry reduces power to or turns off at least said one of the two or more heating or cooling elements that is at least partially exposed above the liquid level or at least partially out of thermal contact with the liquid due to the drop in liquid level.

17. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 16, wherein the two or more heating or cooling elements are two or more thermoelectric elements, wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate each of the two or more thermoelectric elements independently of each other based at least in part on the sensed liquid level such that the control circuitry can turn off or turn on or reduce power to or increase power to or reverse polarity to at least one of the two or more thermoelectric elements based at least in part on the sensed liquid level.

18. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 16, wherein control circuitry operates the heating or cooling elements to induce circulation of the liquid in the receiving portion to achieve a generally uniform temperature in the volume of liquid in the receiving portion.

19. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 16, further comprising a display screen on a surface of the body, the display screen electrically connected to the control circuitry.

20. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 16, further comprising a wireless transmitter or receiver and/or transceiver configured to establish a communication connection with a remote device or mobile electronic device, the transceiver configured to transmit operation information to the remote device or mobile electronic device as well as to receive instructions from the remote device or mobile electronic device.

21. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 16, wherein as the sensed liquid level drops below a predetermined level, the control circuitry turns on power to or raises the power level to at least one of the two or more heating or cooling elements that is submerged below the liquid level or at least partially in thermal contact with the liquid.

22. An actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe or liquid container, comprising:

a body having a receiving portion for receiving and holding a liquid; and

a heating or cooling system, comprising

two or more heating or cooling elements configured to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the receiving portion of the body,

one or more power storage elements, and

control circuitry electrically connected to a wireless power receiver, the control circuitry configured to control the charging of the one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the two or more heating or cooling elements to actively raise or lower the temperature of the liquid to a predetermined drinking temperature or drinking temperature range,

a wireless transmitter or receiver and/or transceiver configured to establish a communication connection with a remote device or mobile electronic device, the transceiver configured to transmit operation information to the remote device or mobile electronic device as well as to receive instructions from the remote device or mobile electronic device, and

a display screen on a surface of the body, the display screen being electrically connected to the control circuitry,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate each of the two or more heating or cooling elements independently of each other based at least in part on a sensed liquid level and wherein as the sensed liquid level drops below a predetermined level, the control circuitry reduces power to or turns off at least said one of the two or more heating or cooling elements that is at least partially exposed above the liquid level or at least partially out of thermal contact with the liquid due to the drop in liquid level.

23. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 22, wherein the two or more heating or cooling elements are two or more thermoelectric elements, wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate each of the two or more thermoelectric elements independently of each other based at least in part on a sensed liquid level such that the control circuitry can turn off or turn on or reduce power to or increase power to or reverse polarity to at least one of the two or more thermoelectric elements based at least in part on the sensed liquid level.

24. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 22, further comprising a wireless power receiver configured to receive wireless power from a power source and to direct said power to at least the control circuitry or two or more heating or cooling elements.

25. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 22, wherein control circuitry operates the heating or cooling elements to induce circulation of the liquid in the receiving portion to achieve a generally uniform temperature in the volume of liquid in the receiving portion.

26. The actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container of claim 22, wherein as the sensed liquid level drops below a predetermined level, the control circuitry turns on power to or raises the power level to at least one of the two or more heating or cooling elements that is submerged below the liquid level or at least partially in thermal contact with the liquid.